Detroit right-hander Anibal Sanchez continues to be one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball as evidenced by his 2.79 ERA and 1.13 WHIP this season. Sanchez nearly recorded a no-hitter against the Twins on May 24 before Joe Mauer laced a single with one out in the ninth inning. In his next start against the Pirates, Sanchez retired 19 of out 21 batters and entered the seventh inning having thrown just 66 pitches. What made Sanchez’s most recent outing so impressive was the fact that it came on the heels of throwing 130 pitches against Minnesota five days earlier.
Anibal Sanchez – Peripheral Stats Support Legitimacy
- Sanchez’s four-seam fastball and cutter have both returned to 2011-level velocities (92 mph) after losing their respective velocities last year;
- Sanchez is 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA and 0.81 WHIP at Comerica Park this season;
- Sanchez was 3-1 with a 1.34 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in the month of April;
- Sanchez is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in four days starts this season;
- Sanchez is elite with the bases empty: 0.64 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He also has 62 strikeouts in 42.0 innings with the bases empty;
- Sanchez boasts an incredible 89/18 K/BB ratio in 71.0 innings of work in 2013
My analysis suggests that Sanchez will finish 2013 with an ERA south of 3.25 and a WHIP of 1.20. Serious sports investors should look carefully at every opportunity to invest on the Tigers when Anibal Sanchez toes the rubber.