The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to the win column on Friday by defeating the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Tyler Anderson did his part by allowing just one run and scattering five hits over five innings. It was the left-hander’s second start and fourth overall appearance of the season, as he’s taken a spot in the rotation while Andrew Heaney recovers from shoulder inflammation.
“I think we just scored a lot of runs, so I was trying throw strikes and force soft contact,” Anderson said after the game. “That’s probably the biggest thing.”
Despite limiting the Tigers to just one run, Anderson was not pleased with the quality of his changeup. “I’m throwing with a new grip, and I just felt like I didn’t throw it for as quality of strikes as often as I wanted to,” Anderson said.
“I usually can throw it in the count whenever and I’d like to throw it in the zone. I just was pushing them off a little bit; too many out of the zone.”
Anderson revealed the grip isn’t exactly new as he used to throw it earlier in his career. “It’s one that I used to throw, and just went back to it. It’s kind of different,” Anderson clarified.
Anderson generated nine swings-and-misses against the Tigers, which was one short of his season-high. “I’ve been throwing it all year and I do like it,” he noted.
“It’s just my innings of throwing it so far and my number of throws probably aren’t to where I have really good command with it. I feel like sometimes it’s really good but today it was a little inconsistent.”
Anderson willing to take on any role
With no timetable on when Heaney may return, Anderson remains willing to pitch in any role for the Dodgers. “It’s what I thought from the beginning. I came in this with the mindset that I’m going to do whatever is asked,” he reiterated.
“So if that means start more, I’ll do that. If I have to come out of the ‘pen and piggyback or throw long, whatever. I just want to throw meaningful innings and help us win.”
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