Anibal Sanchez is off to a great start this season.

Some questioned why the Tigers signed him to an $80 million deal this past winter, but he has paid dividends so far.

Sanchez has increased his strikeout rate from 20.4 percent a season ago to 30.6 percent in 2013.

He's getting more strikeouts with all four of his pitches, but the biggest increase has been with his fastball. The pitch had a strikeout rate of 13.8 percent on plate appearances ending with it in 2012, but 28 percent this season.