Unfortunately, there are no daytime baseball games today, but with all 30 teams scheduled for the late slate MLB fans will have plenty of action to take in. With star pitchers such as Zac Gallen, Sandy Alcantara, Shane McClanahan and Joe Ryan taking the mounds tonight, viewers will have numerous chances to witness quality pitching. There are also pitchers worth fading that play today, including Tyler Anderson who is the focus of today’s article. Let& #8217;s dive in!
Tyler Anderson (LAA) under 4.5 strikeouts (-115)
33-year-old Tyler Anderson signed with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason following an all-star season with the crosstown Dodgers. He was able to maintain a BABIP of .256 last season, the only season in his 8-year career with a BABIP below .281. A career-high 178.2 IP helped the Dodgers win 111 games and he parlayed his performance into a new deal. In 30 regular season appearances with the Dodgers, he was still held under this 4.5 strikeout mark 18 times, however. Anderson has never been a high strikeout rate guy, and this season his numbers have taken another hit. Typically thriving on his command throughout his career, Anderson has seen his Location+ grade fall from 105 last season to right below average at 99 this season. The southpaw has struggled to control his repertoire this year. He is throwing first pitch strikes at a career-low 58.6% rate which is setting him behind in counts. Anderson’s 10.5% BB% is a 26th percentile clip and the worst of his career. His 3.2% K -BB% ranks 4th lowest in MLB among pitchers with 40 or more innings this season. He trails only Brad Keller, Josh Fleming, and Alek Manoah on that list.
Anderson has struggled overall this season, seeing his career best 3.31 FIP from last season become a career worst 5.53 FIP this year. His 4-seam fastball has seen a decrease in velocity, falling below 90 MPH on average. That offering is getting demolished with a .629 SLG and .443 wOBA against it. His sinker and cutter have both regressed from last season’s production as well, but his changeup is what will decide this play. Statistically, the White Sox largest weakness of all the pitches in Anderson’s portfolio is the changeup. They rank 25th in RV/100 this season against that pitch, but a lot of their troubles have come from having to face Shane McClanahan twice. McClanahan has arguably the filthiest changeup in all of baseball. Anderson has recorded 14 of his 30 strikeouts this season on that pitch, but it is not nearly as lethal as last season’s version. Overall, Anderson has a career worst 26.6% chase rate which is down from his 35.3% clip last season, and hi s chase contact rate allowed is 5.3% higher than league average. With Chicago willing to chase on pitches outside the zone, his worsened numbers are crucial.