Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians: 3 things to watch out for

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 15: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers smiles at a comment from catcher Austin Hedges #17 of the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on August 15, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan. Cabrera remains at 499 home runs. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – MAY 16: Alex Faedo #49 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field on May 16, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Alex Faedo is scheduled to start Saturday’s game, and he is off to a fine start to his big league career, with a 2.87 ERA is three starts, giving his team a chance to win each time. The things that’s been the most encouraging about Faedo has been the swing-and-miss, a huge concern before his call-up. He’s got a 14% swinging strike percentage so far, 35th in the league among starting pitchers according to Pitcher List.

Everyone talks about his slider, and rightfully so, as it has currently has a CSW% of 35.1%. But his changeup has been his most underrated pitch to this point. Hitters are batting just .143 against it so far, with a runs above average of 2.0.

Faedo’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time considering all the injuries this rotation has gone through. With Eduardo Rodriguez’s injury on Wednesday, the Tigers could now field an entire pitching rotation with pitchers on the IL.

Could this be the start where Faedo comes back down to earth? It’s certainly possible. He wouldnt be the first young Tigers’ hurler to have a clunker at Progressive Field. Both Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning had starts there last year that were among their worst of the season. Time will tell if Faedo is up to the task.

2. Will Alex Faedo be able to continue his hot start?