* Matt, wife Rebecca and son Jacob (8/18/00) reside in Louisville, KYin the off-season.
* Pitched for Phoenix in the Arizona Fall League during
the 1998 off-season, posting a 4-0 record with a 2.08 ERAand 13 strikeouts in 13.0 innings pitched.
* Was named the top pro prospect in the prestigious
Cape Cod League in 1996.
2005
Spent most of the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs after signing a minor league contract with the Rockies in late February...the former first overall selection by Detroit in the 1997 June draft, Matt made 12 relief appearances for Colorado during his lone stint in the big leagues from May 30-July 4...the outings marked his first career major league games for an organization other than Detroit...allowed runs in 8 of his 12 appearances for Colorado with 11 walks against just 4 strikeouts as opponents batted .404 (19-for-47)...finished 6 of 12 games, but appeared in just 3 Colorado victories...did not have any inherited runners and recorded 2 holds...first batters went 6-for-10 with a walk and hit by pitch as he retired just 4 of 12 first batters faced...Matt posted a 5.79 ERA (4.2 ip, 3 er) over his first 5 outings, but permitted runs in 6 of last 7 appearances at 18.56 (5.1 ip, 11 er) to finish at 12.60...opponents batted .464 (13-for-28) in 8 outings at Coors Field...his Rockies debut on May 30 vs. St. Louis was his first big league outing since Sept. 25, 2003 vs. Minnesota while with Detroit...began the year with Colorado Springs...led the Triple-A club in saves (9) and appearances (46)...held opponents to a .212 average, lowest among Sky Sox pitchers with at least 30.0 IP...had 7 wild pitches at Triple-A, tied for team lead...allowed runs in 6 of first 7 outings for Sky Sox and had an 11.37 ERA (6.1 ip, 8 er) through April 19...followed that start with 10.0 shutout innings over next 10 appearances, going 1-0, 2.76 (16.1 ip, 5 er) with 5 saves in 17 outings from April 22-May 29 to drop from 11.37 to 5.16...was purchased by Colorado on May 30, at which time he was tied for PCL lead in appearances (24) and ranked T4th in saves (7)...outrighted on July 5 and returned to Sky Sox, going 1-2, 3.33 (24.1 ip, 9 er) over final 22 appearances in Colorado Springs...made 2 spring appearances for Rox, allowing 3 runs in 2.0 innings.
2003
Began the season in the Tigers bullpen before being optioned to Toledo on May 7...went 0-1
with three saves and
a
6.17 ERA (
11.2IP/8ER)....allowed runs in seven of his 12 games prior to demotion.
Worked 1.1 innings to pick up the save on April 12 versus Chicago -- the save was his first since September 28,
2001 when he worked two-thirds of an inning to close out a
4-1
victory over the Red Sox at Comerica Park.
Struggled on April 17 in an inning at Minnesota, allowing two runs on two hits, including a
solo home run to Bobby
Kielty.
Suffered the loss on April 18 at Kansas City after allowing a
home run to Ken Harvey in 11th inning -- surrendered
a
homer in three of his first six outings April 2-18.
Recorded his third and final save of the season on April 26 at Seattle in a
6-4
Tigers win.
Blew his first save of the season in the second game on May 1
versus Baltimore, allowing two runs as he failed
to retire any of the three batters he faced.
Posted a
1-3
record with three saves and a
3.79 ERA (
38.0IP/16ER) in 23 appearances at Toledo...made five
starts at beginning of his stint with Mud Hens (
0-1, 4.30 ERA)...was 1-2
with three saves and a
3.47 ERA
(
23.1IP/9ER) strictly as a
reliever in Toledo.
Posted a
1.69 ERA (
16.0IP/3ER) with one walk and 15 strikeouts for Toledo in 10 relief outings during June.
Had a
stretch of five decisions in six outings from June 29-July 13, including all three of his saves...had back-to-back
saves on July 10 at Scranton/Wilkes Barre and July 13 versus Columbus.
Did not pitch from July 14-August 28 due to impingement syndrome of his right shoulder...MRI of right shoulder
on July 22 revealed the malady...began therapy and strengthening exercises.
International League opponents batted .314 (
50x159) versus Anderson...lefties hit .347 (
25x72).
Allowed runs in two of his final 11 outings (
11.2IP) for the Tigers after being recalled prior to the game on
September 2...opponents batted just .150 (
6x40) against him after his September recall.
Was a
part of a
combined shutout on September 12 versus Kansas City, teaming with Mike Maroth, Jamie Walker
and Fernando Rodney in the 3-0
win.
Allowed a
pair of home runs as part of three hits and four runs surrendered in 1.1 innings versus Kansas City on
September 15.
Two walks allowed in his final outing on September 25 were his most since issuing a
pair on September 5, 2000
versus Anaheim, a
span of 105 games.
Averaged 5.01 strikeouts per nine innings, a
career low...the number has dropped in each of his last four years,
from 8.60 in 2000, 8.36 in '
01 and 6.55 in '
02.
Limited major league opponents to a
.194 batting average (
6x31) with runners in scoring position...opponents
batted .222 (
4x18) with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Major league opponents batted .538 (
7x13) when offing at his first pitch...dropped to .132 (
5x38) with two strikes
in the count.
2002
- Suffered through an injury-plagued season as he was on the disabled list twice, once for a strained muscle in his right shoulder (April 27-May 18) and the other for a rare tear in his teres major muscle (May 19-September 20).
- Appeared in eight games in April before being placed on the disabled list on April 27 with a strained muscle in his right shoulder...was the first trip to the disabled list in his career.
- Seven of his eight April appearances were scoreless efforts, the lone exception a rough outing on April 14 at Minnesota in which he surrendered five runs on four straight hits without getting an out in the 13-7 loss...departed after allowing a home run, walk, two singles and a triple.
- Prior to game on April 14 at Minnesota, had not allowed more than two earned runs in any appearance since April 11, 2001 at Minnesota when he allowed seven...was a span of 62 appearances.
- Earned the win on April 17 versus Tampa Bay, tossing a scoreless ninth in the 7-6 victory.
- Picked up second win in a 3-2 victory on April 26 versus Minnesota allowing two hits with an intentional walk and a strikeout in two innings.
- Struggled in first outing after being activated from disabled list prior to game on May 18 versus Texas, blowing his second save opportunity of the season by allowing two runs on two hits in 0.1 innings.
- Experienced discomfort while warming in the bullpen on May 20...an MRI the following day revealed a tear in his teres major muscle.
- Pitched a scoreless inning on September 20 versus New York, allowing a hit while walking one and fanning one, in his first action since returning from the disabled list.
- Did not allow more than one walk in any of his 12 outings...last multi-walk game was September 5, 2000 versus Anaheim (two).
- Both wins came at home, where he posted a 2.84 ERA (6.1IP/2ER)...is 6-2 with 13 saves and a 5.10 ERA (72.1IP/41ER) lifetime at Comerica Park -- is 5-1 with a 3.53 ERA and 12 saves over the last two seasons.
- Opponents batted .378 (17x45) against him, with lefties posting a .435 batting average (10x23).
The opposition batted .556 (5x9) when putting his first pitch into play.
2001
- Emerged as the Tigers closer in the 2001 season and didn't disappoint, posting a 3-1 record and 4.82 ERA with 22 saves in 24 opportunities.
- Had a major-league leading 22 straight save conversions from May 2-September 29 before suffering a blown save and loss on October 4 versus Minnesota.
- Ranked third in the AL with a .917 save percentage (22/24).
- Finished 10th in American League Rolaids Relief Man Standings.
- Totaled nine wild pitches, tied for 8th-most in the AL.
- Surrendered only two home runs (Konerko-CWS, Bell-SEA) in the 2001 season, after allowing eight in each of his last two seasons.
- Of his 62 outings, 38 came in Tigers wins, including in eight straight appearances from May 1-19.
- Did not allow more than one walk in any of his 62 appearances. Last multi-walk game came on September 5, 2000 versus Anaheim (two). Finished 2001 season with 18 walks (four intentional), after three seasons of 30- plus bases on balls, including career high of 45 in 2000.
- Had saves against five of the six interleague opponents (Arizona, Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and St. Louis), failing to collect against Milwaukee only...did pick up a win versus Brewers, though, in a 6-5 win on June 9.
- Posted a 2.98 ERA (51.1IP/17ER) in his last 53 outings, after allowing runs in five of his first eight games in 2001 (25.07 ERA, 4.2IP/13ER).
- In the worst outing of his career, allowed seven runs on six hits in 0.1 innings in a 12-1 loss on April 11 at Minnesota. Of the six hits, three were run-scoring doubles.
- Pitched a career-high three innings on May 2, picking up his first save of the season in an 8-4 win at Texas. Allowed a run on four hits while fanning two...three of the four hits went for extra bases (2-2B, 3B).
- Snapped a string of eight straight scoreless outings, and allowed first inherited runner to score after entering a perfect 19-for-19, on June 3 at Chicago...surrendered three-run home run in 10th inning, his first home run allowed of the season (20.2IP).
- Fanned a season-high three batters in 1.2 scoreless innings on June 5 at Boston.
- Collected saves in four straight outings from July 8-17. Did so again later in the season, from September 22-28.
- Earned saves in both Tigers wins at Cincinnati on July 15 and 17.
- Collected five saves in six outings versus Kansas City, including in both Tigers victories in a three-game series August 17-19 at Comerica Park.
- Held first batters faced to a .222 batting average (12x54). Stranded 32-of-41 inherited runners (78-percent).
- Opponents batted .257 (56x218) versus Anderson, the highest average of his four seasons in the majors. Opponents entered the 2001 season batting .235 versus Anderson in his previous three seasons of work.
- Limited right handed batters to a .222 batting average (24x108).
2000
- At the age of 24, Anderson completed his first full season in the major leagues, leading all Tigers' pitchers in appearances with 69.
- Held opponents to a .228 batting average (61x268), which was lowest amongst Tigers' pitchers (6+ appearances)
- Allowed just one run in 16 outings from April 23-May 29 (12.1IP, 0.73 ERA)
- Made the 100th appearance of his major league career on May 24 vs. Cleveland
- Was the first Tigers' pitcher to three wins, earning his third by pitching two perfect innings of relief on June 4 at Chicago (NL)
- First batters faced managed just a .200 batting average (11x55) vs. Anderson
- Posted third consecutive winning record for the Tigers
- Had best strikeout/walk ratio of his career at 1.58 (71K/45BB)
- Had career-high of four strikeouts on two occassions -- May 31 vs. Texas (2.0IP) and June 11 vs. St. Louis (2.1IP)
- Pitched 2.2 innings on June 25 at Cleveland to set a career high; suffered his first loss of the season
- His 2.87 road ERA (12ER/37.2IP) in 32 appearances was a career best and second only to Patterson (2.86) on the staff
- Allowed two earned runs (July 14 vs. Houston & July 22 vs. Kansas City) in 13 appearances from June 27-July 24 (15.0 IP)
- Picked up first career save on September 2 vs. Texas
- Closed the season allowing runs in six of his last nine outings (11ER/8.2IP -- 11.42ERA)
- An ERA of 10.24 (11ER/9.2IP) in September/October raised his overall ERA close to one run, from 3.90 at the beginning of the month to its final 4.72
- Batters fared well putting his first pitch into play, a .391 batting average (9x23) when doing so; struggled to a .158 batting average (24x152) after an 0-1 count
- Was 3-1, with a 4.05 ERA(18ER/40.0IP) prior to the All-Star break; 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA (21ER/34.1IP) following the break
- Boasted a 0.00 ERA in eight games (10.0IP) vs. Minnesota, allowing five hits while striking out eight
- Strikeout total of 71 nearly surpassed the total for his first two seasons (76).
1998
- Progressed from Single-A to the major leagues in 1998, his first pro season, and was named Tiger Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters' Association
- Was the top overall selection in the 1997 June draft and was the third player from that draft to make it to the big leagues, behind Jim Parque of the White Sox and the Reds' Mike Frank. His ascension to the major leagues was the quickest by a Tiger draft pick since Billy Bean, the club's fourth-round selection in the 1986 June draft who was promoted to Detroit on April 25, 1987
- Regularly topped 100 mph on the radar gun, including a high mark of 103 mph twice
- Ranked fourth among AL rookies with 42 appearances, all coming after his contract was purchased from Double A Jacksonville on June 25
- Registered the third-lowest ERA among AL rookies with at least 25 relief outings; in the majors, just six rookie relievers with at least 25 outings had a better ERA
- Five victories tied him with Doug Brocail for the team lead among relievers and won his final three decisions of the campaign; struck out 28 hitters in his last 23.1 innings and averaged a strikeout per inning over the course of the season for the Tigers (44SO/44.0IP)
- Enjoyed his best success at Tiger Stadium, where he posted a 2.96 ERA (8ER/ 24.1IP) and was scored upon in just three of his 23 appearances there
- Five of the 16 runs he allowed on the season came in one appearance, a stint lasting one-third of an inning on September 14 versus the White Sox. Surrendered just three home runs, an average of 0.6 per nine innings of work
- Allowed just one run in his first 15 major league appearances, totaling 15.1 innings
- Made his major league debut on June 25, his first game in a big league uniform, earning the victory in a 6-4 Tiger win over the Chicago Cubs.
