Nearly one year after making his major league debut, Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Faedo prepares to face the Cardinals on Sunday. Joining the team in St. Louis as a member of the taxi squad, Faedo’s timing appears fitting. On May 4, 2022, he first stepped onto the mound at Comerica Park against the Pirates. During his first seven starts, he consistently allowed two or fewer runs. In his second start, Faedo struck out seven and generated 17 swings and misses, making it particularly noteworthy.

Faedo’s season came to an end due to a right hip injury, which required surgery to repair a torn labrum and capsule. After surgery, he worked with pitching coach Chris Fetter, assistant coach Robin Lund and new pitching rehab coordinator John DeRouin. Per Evan Petzold’s story in the Freep, they worked with him to bring him back to his old arm slot. With those changes, he went to work in Toledo.

So the line for Alex Faedo down in Omaha today: 4IP 1ER 5H 5K: 73 pitches, 53 for strikes. 12 swings and misses. pic.twitter.com/rW9siHQuJp

— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) April 9, 2023

A small little thing I noticed in Alex Faedo’s delivery in his start tonight. His hands are lower than they were last year. Looks like but this could be a camera angle thing he is landing differently and the arm angle is slightly lowered. pic.twitter.com/3NvviFJ4su

— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) April 5, 2023

Faedo settles in

Several bullpen arms from Toledo, including Will Vest, Tyler Holton, and Brendan White, have already made appearances in Detroit. Although Faedo’s spring numbers were not particularly striking, it’s important to consider his recent surgery. Among Toledo starters, Faedo’s performance holds up well.

18IP 12H 5ER 3HR 4BB 19SO

But let’s take a look at his other data and what has made him so effective. He throws three pitches, a slider, fastball, and change. His changeup last season averaged 25.6 inches of vertical movement, which was below league average. But so far down in Toledo, he has been able to command the strike zone with some small increases in average break across his pitches.

2022 numbers:

4-seam FB: Avg Velocity: 92.7MPH Average break: 11

Changeup: Avg Velocity: 86.2MPH Average break: 25.8

Slider: Avg Velocity 85MPH Average break: 35

2023 numbers:

(Source: Baseball Savant)

In his final start against Syracuse on April 30, he threw four innings, allowing no runs or hits and striking out five. 45 pitches, 31 strikes and 11 swings and misses. What worked for him so well last season was changing eye levels with his fastball high in the zone, and then throwing the slider and change at the bottom of the zone. That mix has been doing well against lefties, as they are batting just .087 against him this season.

Alex Faedo with his first K of the day pic.twitter.com/tteVDxj8ep

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 26, 2023

St. Louis primarily features a right-handed lineup, but they will face Faedo for the first time in his career. Although this may be a spot start, it serves as a valuable test for the Tigers’ pitching depth, which has experienced injuries throughout the system. If Faedo replicates the effectiveness of his first seven starts last season, the Tigers could maintain their winning streak and remain unbeaten in May. To make room for Faedo, the Tigers sent Spencer Turnbull down to Toledo.

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