Lefty pitcher Tyler Anderson loves it all: winning games, issuing virtually no walks, and making batters chase his pitches. Anderson is the first pitcher in baseball with seven wins this season; this is even more impressive when you consider that he didn’t make his first start until April 23. Anderson was stretched to eventually be a starting pitcher during the spring, but started in a piggyback role out of the bullpen. He made two relief appearances for the Dodgers at the start of the season, before moving into the starting rotation.
On Friday, he authored a strong six inning shutout performance, dotting I’s and crossing t’s by limiting the Mets to just three hits. Over his last three starts, he has pitched 26 consecutive scoreless innings, and it shows via his svelte 2.59 ERA. Anderson also issued no walks in that contest; according to StatsbySTATS, he’s the only MLB pitcher in the modern era to go 7-0 (or better) with fewer than seven walks over his first 10 appearances of a season. Through Friday, the southpaw’s WHIP stands at 0.92, and his BB% resembles a microbial 2.7%.
Anderson excels at limiting hard contact; his HardHit% is below MLB average, at 29.9%. His average exit velocity is amongst the top of the league, at 85.9 MPH. Anderson’s changeup allows him to miss bats; it’s averaged out at a speedy 79.2 MPH, and is absolutely his best pitch. It’s also his most thrown pitch, and rightfully so - and opponents carry .110 wOBA against that pitch. As of June 5, he’s actually thrown his changeup more than his fastball. Anderson’s offspeed pitch also carries an impressive 46.9% whiff rate; it also has a significant 30.7% put-away rate. A cutter, sinker, curveball and slider round out his secondary pitches.
For a 2021 comparison, Anderson was traded mid-season from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Seattle Mariners. He finished the year with a 7-11 record and a 4.53 ERA over 167 innings pitched over 31 starts.
More to love: the 32-year-old lefty will get a chance to extend his scoreless inning streak on Thursday in Chicago, where he’ll take on the White Sox.
Notable Performances
Luis Severino tossed a gem of a game on Saturday afternoon, shutting out the Tigers for seven innings and striking out 10. Gerrit Cole tossed an almost-perfect game on Friday, where he authored a wonderful seven inning shutout performance, allowing just two hits. He threw 102 pitches, 73 of them for strikes. This is just a day after Jameson Taillon took a perfect game into the eighth inning. According to ESPN Stats and info, the Yankees have allowed a total of six hits over the last three games, for the fewest in a three-game span in franchise history.
Max Fried twirled a spectacular eight shutout innings on Friday night versus the Rockies at Coors Field, giving up just two hits. He also struck out four and walked one. The Braves were unable to provide any satiable run support, unfortunately, so Fried walked away with a no-decision. His start earlier this week was also sublime, where he allowed one run over six innings on Sunday in a win over the Marlins. The southpaw carries forward a 2.74 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts over 69 innings pitched.
Frank Schwindel over his last 15 games has been someone to behold: he’s slashing .310 .379/.690 including six homers, seven walks, and 11 runs scored. He had a fantastic day in the matinee game versus the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon, going 3-for-5 including a home run and two RBI. He’s also got 13 extra base hits since May 11.
In case you’ve somehow forgotten, Mookie Betts is very good. Betts has been on another level for the last month. May 2022 might be the best month of Mookie’s career -- he hit .342 with a personal-best 12 home runs, 27 RBIs and an 1.157 OPS while leading the Dodgers to a 20-9 record. Then he started June by hitting his National League-leading 16th home run.
Jack Suwinski in his last ten games is slashing .310/.375/.552, alongside a 159 wRC+. This is including five runs scored, and six RBI. The 23-year-old Pirates rookie has been swinging a hot bat in the Pirates lineup lately. In his last ten games, he’s hit two home runs and stolen a base.
Injury Report
Kevin Pillar will undergo season-ending surgery, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Pillar suffered a left shoulder fracture earlier this week; he played just four games for Los Angeles. Brutal news after Pillar signed a minor-league contract and worked his way back to the majors, to play for the team he rooted for as a kid. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers have added Eddy Alvarez to the 40-man roster.
Angels outfielder Taylor Ward exited Friday’s game versus the Phillies due to right hamstring tightness. The 28-year-old could be a fantasy cornerstone if he remains healthy. He’s been one of the most productive hitters on the Angels this year, he’s earned a .333/.443/.644 triple-slash line with 30 runs scored, 10 homers, 26 RBI and one stolen base across 158 plate appearances. The Angels have recalled Jo Adell from Triple A in a corresponding move.
This week included a handful of strange Mets Injuries:
Francisco Lindor slammed his right middle finger on a closing hotel door on Wednesday, and told reporters then that the finger is swollen considerably. Manager Buck Showalter said that Lindor is dealing with “a form of” a fracture in his finger, but assured it was an injury that Lindor will be able to play through. Though it’s a valid question to ask if the injury might affect his production, he returned to the lineup on Friday versus the Dodgers, and went 0-for-4.
Max Scherzer was bit by one of his dogs on his non-throwing hand, after he attempted to calm the dog down after she suffered an injury during a run. Not anything to be concerned with, as Scherzer was already on the shelf from an oblique strain. Scherzer confirmed via his own Twitter account that this injury will have no effect on his rehab. A strange injury that’s a non-story, but he shouldn’t miss any additional time.
Honor Roll
José Berríos (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 13 K on Saturday), Brandon Drury (2-for-4, 3 R, HR , RBI, SB)Joe Musgrove (8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K on Friday), Lane Thomas (3-for-5, 3 HR, 4 RBI on Friday), Tony Gonsolin (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K on Thursday), Kyle Farmer (2-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, SB on Thursday), Justin Verlander (7 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K on Wednesday), Jackie Bradley Jr. (2-for-4, 3B, 4 RBI on Wednesday), Jordan Montgomery (7 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 4 K on Tuesday), Alejandro Kirk (3-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI on Tuesday), Tyler Wells (6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K on Monday), Tyrone Taylor (2-for-7, 2 HR, BB, 3 R on Monday)
Batting Around
Randal Grichuk made his first career appearance as a position player pitcher on Wednesday. Grichuk came into the game to pitch in the top of the ninth inning, where the Rockies were eventually subjected to a 14-1 blowout by the Miami Marlins. Oddly enough, Grichuk pitched the one of best lines of the day for the Rockies, throwing only ten pitches, six for strikes. The outfielder was able to get Jorge Soler and Avisail Garcia to ground out, then he ended the frame by getting Willians Astudillo to pop out on a 1-0 count. After pitching that clean 1-2-3, Grichuk received a standing ovation from fans. Grichuk expressed that he would have loved to have taken the mound for Toronto, but was never allowed to do so. Certainly a feat for anyone pitching at Coors Field, let alone someone who’s never taken the mound before in his Major League career.
Yet another Week that Was has passed us by, one week into the month of June! Join us next week for more stories, updates, and great feats from around Major League Baseball.