Can Drew Anderson be a solution to Tigers' sinking bullpen whiff rate?
It’s taken a few weeks and a few messy outings, but there are signs that Drew Anderson is rounding into the pitcher the Tigers need him to be.
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.