A mid-month velocity spike and more intentional changeup usage transformed Drew Anderson’s early struggles into a high-whiff tear, turning his secondary weapons into elite finishing pitches.
Drew Anderson’s six April appearances show a clear separation between his first three outings and his final three. The pitch mix remained largely consistent throughout, but the way he deployed it changed, and that shift shows up in both swing-and-miss and contact quality.
In his April 11 start against Miami, Anderson worked primarily off his four-seam fastball (43%) and changeup (38%), with the curveball mixed in at 16%. The results were limited in terms of swing-and-miss. He generated a 13% whiff rate (4-for-30) and a 21% CSW. The fastball averaged 93.8 mph, slightly below his typical range, and none of his pitches consistently produced chase or put-away swings.
That pattern carried into April 16 against Kansas City. Anderson again split usage evenly between fastball (42%) and changeup (42%), but there was little separation in how hitters approached each pitch. He induced just four total swings in that outing, with minimal swing-and-miss. The changeup did generate called strikes, but it was not used consistently as a finishing pitch.
By April 20 against Boston, Anderson expanded his mix, incorporating more slider usage (14%), but the results did not improve. He finished with an 8% whiff rate (1-for-13), and contact quality increased. His average exit velocity allowed climbed to 94.4 mph, with multiple hard-hit balls across his fastball and slider. At that point in the month, his secondary pitches were being introduced, but not consistently sequenced off the fastball in a way that disrupted timing.
The final three outings — April 24 and 25 against Cincinnati, and April 30 against Atlanta — reflect a more structured approach.
On April 24, Anderson’s fastball velocity ticked up to 96.5 mph, nearly two miles per hour above his earlier outings. He still maintained a similar mix (36% fastball, 43% changeup, 21% curveball), but the pitch usage within counts shifted. He worked ahead more frequently with the fastball, which allowed the changeup to play more effectively. He finished that outing with a 36% CSW and a 29% whiff rate (2-for-7), both significant increases from earlier in the month.
The following day against Cincinnati, the changeup became his most effective pitch. While usage remained in line at 43%, it produced a 33% whiff rate (1-for-3), and his fastball also generated swing-and-miss at the same rate. Overall, he recorded a 36% CSW (5-for-14). The key difference was how often the changeup followed the fastball rather than being used interchangeably in neutral counts.
In his April 30 outing against Atlanta, Anderson leaned more heavily into his fastball at 48%, while increasing curveball usage to 29%. That adjustment led to his most complete performance of the stretch. The curveball produced a 50% whiff rate (3-for-6) and a 58% CSW, giving him a reliable finishing pitch. Overall, he recorded a 47% whiff rate (9-for-19) and a 40% CSW (17-for-42).
Across those final three appearances, two trends stand out.
First, fastball velocity and intent improved. After sitting in the 93–94 mph range earlier in the month, Anderson consistently worked at 95–96 mph in his final outings. That allowed the pitch to play more effectively at the top of the zone and set up his secondary pitches.
Second, sequencing became more defined. Early in April, Anderson used his fastball and changeup at similar rates without a clear progression between them. Later in the month, he established the fastball early in counts, used the changeup to expand, and relied on the curveball more frequently in two-strike situations.
The pitch shapes themselves remained largely stable. Induced vertical break on the fastball stayed around 16–17 inches, and the changeup maintained its drop and separation. The difference was not in the movement profile, but in how those pitches were layered.
Contact quality also improved as a result. After allowing a 94.4 mph average exit velocity on April 20, Anderson reduced both the frequency and impact of hard contact in his final three outings. Even when hitters made contact, it was less consistently squared up.
The six-start sample shows that Anderson’s improvement was tied less to changes in arsenal and more to how his pitches were sequenced. The fastball set the tone, the changeup played off it more effectively, and the curveball became a more consistent option to finish at-bats. There were several fans who noticed that spawn this idea, but a mustache, which could stay because of superstition or it just looks good on his face, is working.
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