CHICAGO — Tyler Anderson’s miserable season in 2023 has turned so emphatically in 2024 that he’s been more than simply a successful pitcher.
He’s an All-Star.
The Angels left-hander was named to his second All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon, the only member of the Angels to be selected.
Anderson, a 34-year-old in the second year of a three-year, $39-million deal, earned the nod with a 2.81 ERA in 18 starts. Last season he had a 5.43 ERA, which was so bad that the Angels briefly demoted him to the bullpen.
“There’s nothing in the game that’s more motivating than poor performance,” Anderson said after learning he’d been named to the All-Star team on Sunday. “And at some point last year, getting moved to the bullpen, basically being told you’re not good enough enough to be a starter anymore. Not in those exact words. But that’s what the action is. To kind of prove to yourself and other people that you can still be effective, I guess it’s a good feeling.”
Anderson has been effective and efficient with his pitches, enough to get through the sixth inning in 12 starts and through the seventh in seven of those.
On Saturday afternoon, he had perhaps his best game of the season, allowing only three singles in eight scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs. He retired 24 of the 27 hitters he faced, on just 98 pitches.
Anderson said the difference from last year to this year is partly about mechanics, but more about his approach on the mound.
“I changed my routine, getting my body in a better position than I was last year,” Anderson said. “And then just trying to get back to competing. I feel like last year I kind of got away from that. I was trying to change some things and worried about a lot of the wrong stuff. This year I kind of trust what I know, and stick with that.”
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Anderson was an All-Star in 2022 with the Dodgers, when he was on the way to the best season of his career. He posted a 2.57 ERA in 28 starts that season.
He did not pitch in that All-Star Game, which was at Dodger Stadium. He said he still enjoyed the experience, and is looking forward to going again, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
“It’s just so much fun because it’s a way to talk to guys and see guys,” Anderson said. “For me, I really like pitching but baseball in general. I love the game. So you get to see and talk to a lot of guys and just try to learn some stuff from them, see how they go about their business, what their routines and what their thoughts are. And then just see a lot of really good players and good baseball. It’s just a fun experience for a family. I think it’s great.”