After a global journey, the veteran right-hander is seizing his opportunity in Detroit, parlaying impressive strikeout numbers and newfound consistency into a legitimate case for a permanent rotation spot.
From the MLB to Japan to Korea and now back to Major League Baseball, 32-year-old right-handed pitcher Drew Anderson has had quite the journey.
Now, Anderson is back in the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers, and he is beginning to find a rhythm on the mound.
Anderson has posted a 26% strikeout rate this season, striking out 101 of the 393 batters he has faced. After spending much of the season working his way into a more consistent role, Anderson has now made five consecutive starts for the Tigers, and it is starting to feel more and more comfortable on the mound.
It is easy to see the confidence growing when Anderson takes the mound, so today we are going to dive a little deeper into what has been working for him and whether there is an actual spot in the Tigers' rotation moving forward.
Anderson Finding Consistency
Wednesday marked Anderson's fifth consecutive start, and his ability to work deeper into games has been one of the biggest developments.
In each of his five most recent starts, Anderson has pitched at least 4.2 innings. He has reached five innings in four of those five starts and has done so in three of his last four outings.
Over those five starts, Anderson has allowed just eight earned runs. That includes two games in which he allowed three earned runs, two games with one earned run allowed and one scoreless outing.
That type of consistency has been particularly important for the Tigers after the team dealt with significant changes to its pitching staff.
After allowing four home runs over his first three starts following the trade deadline departures of Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, which forced the Tigers' hand into using Anderson in the rotation, he has now gone back-to-back games without allowing a home run.
Anderson has also gone 10.1 innings without surrendering a long ball.
His strikeout numbers have been impressive as well.
Over his last two games, Anderson has struck out 10 batters across 10.1 innings. Over his five most recent starts, he has recorded 23 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.
That is the type of stretch that can change the perception surrounding a pitcher who entered the rotation out of necessity.
Command Remains the Biggest Question
While Anderson has shown plenty of positives, there is still one area that could determine whether he can remain in the rotation: his control.
Command became a glaring issue in his previous start when Anderson walked five batters. It looked like that problem might carry over into Wednesday's outing after he walked two batters and hit another before allowing his first hit to the Minnesota Twins.
Instead, Anderson locked in.
He settled down and delivered his best outing of the season from a longevity standpoint, giving the Tigers the type of start they desperately need from their rotation.
The ability to limit free passes will be something to monitor moving forward. If Anderson can consistently pair his strikeout ability with improved command, his recent stretch becomes much more than a short-term hot streak.
What Is Working for Anderson?
Anderson relies heavily on three pitches: his fastball, changeup and curveball.
His fastball averages around 95 mph, while he can take some velocity off and throw his changeup around 90 mph. The difference in velocity gives hitters another look and allows Anderson to keep opposing lineups from sitting on one speed.
His ability to generate strikeouts has been one of the most encouraging aspects of his recent run.
For a pitcher who has taken a unique path back to the major leagues, Anderson is proving that he can still get major league hitters out.
Anderson may not be the youngest chicken in the coop, but he continues to chase the dream every day.
Now, he is beginning to show why Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has continued to believe in him.
The Tigers did not necessarily enter the season expecting Anderson to become a key part of their rotation. Circumstances forced the team to give him an opportunity, and he has taken advantage of it.
There is still plenty of baseball left to be played, and Anderson will have to continue proving himself every five days.
But if he can maintain his recent strikeout numbers, limit the home runs and improve his command, there is no reason the Tigers should not continue giving him the ball.
For the rest of the season, Drew Anderson may just be one of the Tigers' best options every five days.
