Cincinnati — The Tigers didn’t sign Drew Anderson to a $7 million deal this offseason to pitch mop-up innings. They signed him to be a starter, initially, but mostly, they signed him because he brings an element that’s lacking on the pitching staff, especially in the bullpen — the ability to miss bats.
It’s taken a few weeks and a few messy outings, but there are signs that he’s rounding into the pitcher they need him to be.
“That was me,” Anderson said after throwing a crisp and clean eighth inning Friday night in the Tigers’ tough 9-8 loss to the Reds.
The velocity on all three off the pitches he used ticked up considerably. The four-seamer was up 2.4 mph to 96.5 mph. He was averaging 90.4 mph on his changeup (up 1.9 mph) and he was breaking off 81.5-mph curveballs (up 2.6 mph).
He punched out two of the three batters he faced and was in control of all three hitters.
“I think it’s just more repetitions,” Anderson said. “Just feeling good. Blame it on the warmer weather (laughs). It’s just getting more comfortable. It took a minute to get used to the bullpen.”
The Tigers went into play Saturday ranked last in baseball in bullpen whiff rate. It’s been an issue for a couple of years. Anderson is expected to be part of the solution there, eventually.
Which is why his performance Friday was so encouraging.
“I know it’s important to him and I know it’s important for us to have that pitcher on the mound,” manager AJ Hnich said. “As we saw, it is pretty dynamic. It was impactful. He missed some bats. … He did his job.
“For someone who expects to pitch in important innings — he signed here to be an impactful arm — maybe an outing like that will be a springboard to more usage but also more confidence.”
Anderson has been used in a hybrid, multi-inning role. But as the games pile up, the Tigers played the 12th game in a stretch of 13 straight on Saturday, there could be more opportunity for leverage duty later in games.
“We need him to get his best stuff over the plate,” Hinch said. “(Friday) was a good step forward for him. He’s got really good stuff. Early in the season he hadn’t been at his best. But that doesn’t mean his stuff isn’t good.”
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
Tigers at Reds
First pitch: 1:40 p.m. Sunday, Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
TV/radio: Detroit Sports Net/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 3.68), Tigers: The friendly confines of Great American Ball Park probably wouldn’t be his first choice of stadiums to make his first road start of the season, but here we are. He’s been solid filling in for Justin Verlander, posting a 0.909 WHIP with an opponent slash-line of .210/.235/.284. He’s yet to allow a home run in his four starts. Hitters are 3-for-27 against his slider and changeup with 12 strikeouts.
RHP Rhett Lowder (3-1, 3.10), Reds: The 22-year-old rookie is coming off back-to-back quality starts. His stuff isn’t overpowering but his command has been mostly precise and he lives off missing barrels and getting soft contact, evidenced by his 35.6% hard-hit rate. He pitches off a 92.3 mph sinker, throwing more four-seamers (93 mph) to leftie. He’s getting a 32.7% whiff rate with his slider, but his best secondary pitch is the changeup. Hitters are 2-for-22 with a 31.6% whiff rate.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Can Drew Anderson be a solution to Tigers’ sinking bullpen whiff rate?
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
