DETROIT -- No one said veteran pitchers can't learn a new trick or two. A month into this season, Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez has tweaked his arsenal with increased use of his fastball and a slower-than-usual curveball to help take hitters off his notoriously effective out pitch, his changeup.
Rodriguez's curveball has been thrown at an average speed of 74.3 mph this season, according to Statcast™, down from 76 mph a year ago. That doesn't seem like a big jump, and Detroit manager Brad Ausmus and catcher Alex Avila both said they haven't noticed a drop in velocity on the curveball.