Tyler Alexander came out of the bullpen for the Tigers and made history against the Reds. In the first game of a doubleheader, Alexander struck out the first nine batters he faced, setting a new MLB record for most consecutive strikeouts by a reliever and tying the all-time AL record for any pitcher. He relied on a mix of offspeed pitches and reverse sequencing, starting hitters with breaking balls and finishing them with fastballs. His catcher, Austin Romine, helped call a tight game and framed pitches precisely where he wanted them. Alexander executed nearly every target, keeping hitters like Eugenio Suárez, Jesse Winker, and Nick Senzel completely off balance.
The biggest change in Alexander’s approach came from ditching his four-seam fastball. In 2019, he used it over 30 percent of the time. In 2020, he threw it less than 6 percent. Instead, he leaned on his sinker, changeup, and curve, all with distinct movement that confused hitters. The data backed the shift, as his four-seamer and sinker were too similar in velocity to fool batters. By cutting one, he let the rest of his pitches play up. He didn’t overpower anyone, but the movement and sequence kept hitters guessing.
Alexander ended the day with 10 strikeouts over a few innings, including the nine straight. That kind of dominance from a reliever, especially one with a quiet profile, shocked most viewers. His command and pitch adjustment paid off in a big way.