Drew Anderson, Troy Melton the silver linings in miserable Tigers loss

The Detroit Tigers, now 20-30 over the first 50 games of the season, are pretty desperate for wins.

And with the team 4-14 in May and currently on a five-game losing streak, it'll have to settle for silver linings on cloudy days like these.

The Tigers lost, 3-2, in 10 innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, May 20, falling despite taking a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning. They wasted a brilliant first start from journeyman pitcher Drew Anderson, but as silver linings go, Anderson's performance was a pretty strong one.

Anderson pitched 4⅔ brilliant innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out a career-high seven batters. It was Anderson's first MLB start since Aug. 7 2021, with the Texas Rangers, before the veteran righty began a four-year journey pitching for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan's NPB (2022-23) and for the SSG Landers in Korea's KBO (2024-25).

And for a Tigers team missing a chunk of its top-line starters, getting nearly five shutout innings from Anderson was exactly what the struggling team needed.

"He gave us everything he possibly could and more," manager A.J. Hinch said. "That type of efficiency, and that in a bullpen game, where we have been scrambling to try to find a way to piece together these games and still have pitching for tomorrow, I thought he was awesome."

THE GAME: Tigers waste great Drew Anderson start with late choke vs Guardians

Tigers catcher Jake Rogers said Anderson exceeded the team's expectations in his first start for Detroit.

"That was an incredible ballgame," Rogers said of Anderson's start. "Having Drew for a so-called bullpen game, him coming and actually putting up a pretty good start ... we were hoping for three, four innings, and him going into the fifth, that's huge."

For his part, Anderson was ready for whatever was asked of him.

"I think [Hinch] just wanted me to give as many innings as I could, and 4⅔ is what I had," he said. "If you throw strikes with multiple pitches, you're going to do pretty good."

Anderson, who was signed in the offseason to provide starting depth but made 15 appearances out of the bullpen to start the season, pitched well enough to justify spot starts for an injury-riddled club. But if everything breaks well injury-wise over the next couple of weeks, especially for two pitchers going through rehabbing motions at Comerica Park on Wednesday, the Tigers may not need Anderson in a starting role for long.

Troy Melton, Justin Verlander throw before game

Anderson's performance wasn't the only boost the Tigers starting staff got on Wednesday. Starting pitcher Troy Melton, who has been rehabbing since straining his elbow in spring training, was seen throwing in the outfield pregame at Comerica Park on Wednesday after completing a successful rehab assignment for Low-A Lakeland on Tuesday. He is available to come back from the 60-day injured list as early as Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, though the Tigers have yet to announce their plans for the second-year pitcher.

The Tigers also held a simulated start for starter Justin Verlander on Wednesday. And though the start showed some concerning signs for the 43-year-old, his potential return from the 60-day IL at the end of May could give the Tigers another healthy arm when they need all the talent they get.

Because, as Hinch explained after the game, things are "pretty rough" for his team right now.

"I think our guys are pretty beat up right now, but the schedule doesn't stop, and the 112 games we have left are going to be presented as opportunities.

"But it's pretty [expletive]," he said to finish off his postgame news conference.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Drew Anderson's surprising gem is silver lining in Tigers meltdown