Atlanta optioned Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
The way the regular-season schedule lines up, Atlanta is going to need a fifth starter out of the gate. Bryce Elder was also optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday, so maybe that assignment will go to Jared Shuster or Dylan Dodd. Anderson, 24, posted a rough 5.00 ERA over 22 major-league starts in 2022 and was struggling to find the strike zone this spring in Grapefruit League play.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Fans five in second outing
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Anderson gave up an unearned run on one hit and two walks over 2.1 innings while striking out five in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
Working behind Charlie Morton and entering the game in the fourth inning, Anderson faced a New York lineup that was a mix of regulars like Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres and younger players. The right-hander turned in a much better line than in his first spring appearance, but Anderson still wasn't exactly sharp, and he now sports a 6:5 K:BB through 3.2 Grapefruit League innings. If he can get the walks under control over the next couple weeks, Anderson should lock down the fifth starter role for Atlanta, but if he continues to have trouble finding the plate, Bryce Elder might leapfrog him on the depth chart.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Struggles in spring debut
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Anderson gave up four runs on three hits and three walks over 1.1 innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. He struck out one and served up home runs to Edouard Julien and Willi Castro.
Julien is at least a top Minnesota prospect, but Castro is a Detroit castoff with a career .673 OPS competing in camp for a bench role. It's too early in the spring to worry much about box score lines, but Atlanta has options for the fifth starter role if Anderson can't turn things around before Opening Day. The 24-year-old is coming off a campaign in which he stumbled to a 5.00 ERA and 1.51 WHIP after a breakout 2021 season.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Starting Tuesday
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Anderson will start Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Anderson will be making his first start of the spring Tuesday. The right-hander is coming off a disappointing 2022 campaign in which he posted a 5.00 ERA with a 97:54 K:BB across 111.2 innings, but he isn't far removed from being one of the most intriguing young arms in the National League, and he's reportedly added a slider to his arsenal. Anderson will likely need a strong spring training to secure the No. 5 spot in the Atlanta rotation.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Working on slider
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Anderson is working on a slider, though he expects to continue to primarily throw his fastball and changeup, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 2016 third-overall pick cruised to a 3.25 ERA in 30 starts across his first two years in the league, but he stumbled to a 5.00 ERA in 22 outings last year. Still just 24 years old, there's plenty of time for him to recapture his previous form. It seems like he's doing the work to get there, as recent reports have also indicated that he's adjusted his delivery as well as his pitch mix. Even the revamped version of Anderson isn't a lock to open the year in Atlanta's rotation, however, as Mike Soroka (hamstring) and Bryce Elder will also get the chance to stake their claim.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Revamps mechanics
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Anderson underwent a biometric evaluation this offseason that helped him adjust his mechanics on the mound, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 24-year-old struggled last season for one of the few times in his professional career, posting a 5.00 ERA over 111.2 big-league innings before a demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett in August, but Anderson used the offseason to make some adjustments to his delivery and approach. "One of the things I kind of told myself was, I don't want to get back to that guy, I want to be better than that guy," Anderson said Wednesday. "I think I can be. That's kind of been the driving force this offseason." As part of the process of becoming a better pitcher, he cleaned up his delivery and worked on maintaining his focus on the mound. Anderson will compete in camp with Mike Soroka, Bryce Elder and Kolby Allard for the final spot in Atlanta's Opening Day rotation.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Shut down with strained oblique
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Anderson suffered a strained left oblique during his most recent start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Sept. 8 and is expected to be sidelined for at least one month, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Anderson lost his spot in the big-league rotation shortly after Atlanta acquired Jake Odorizzi from Houston ahead of the trade deadline, and the 24-year-old right-hander hadn't made a compelling case for returning to the majors following his demotion to Triple-A on Aug. 13. In his subsequent four outings with Gwinnett, Anderson turned in a 5.40 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB in 21.2 innings before straining his oblique. The injury will almost certainly end Anderson's season, as Atlanta likely won't consider adding him to the postseason roster even if he's back to full strength by the middle of October.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Returned to minors
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Anderson was returned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Anderson started the second game of Atlanta's doubleheader against the Marlins and earned his 10th win of the season. He allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four across six innings. Anderson has allowed two or fewer earned runs five times in his last seven starts but has served up seven and four earned runs in the other two starts. He's likely to be back in Atlanta's rotation at some point prior to the close of the regular season.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Set to rejoin rotation next weekend
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Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Anderson will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start one game of Saturday's doubleheader in Miami, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Even though Anderson was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, he won't actually report to the affiliate and will be part of Atlanta's taxi squad as the club shifts its road trip from New York to Boston during the upcoming week. Since he'll be designated as the 27th man for the upcoming twin bill, Atlanta will be able to add Anderson back to the active roster in fewer than 15 days, but the expectation remains that he'll report to Gwinnett immediately following his spot start against the Marlins. Anderson has seemingly lost his spot in the rotation to Jake Odorizzi after allowing four earned runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Mets on Friday.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Demoted to Triple-A
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Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
The right-hander surrendered four runs over 4.2 innings Friday and has a 6.62 ERA across his past eight starts, leading Atlanta to remove him from the rotation and send him to the minors. Anderson could receive another look in the majors down the stretch, but for now he'll look to straighten things out at Triple-A. Huascar Ynoa was recalled from Gwinnett in a corresponding move, though he isn't guaranteed to step into the rotation since Atlanta was employing a six-man rotation following the addition of Jake Odorizzi at the trade deadline.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Coughs up four runs
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Anderson yielded four runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in Friday's win over the Mets. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.
Through four frames, Anderson allowed just one run on a Brandon Nimmo second-inning single. He ran into trouble in the fifth and was charged with three more runs, including a pair after Dylan Lee took over. Anderson's ERA climbed to 5.11 with a 93:53 K:BB through 105.2 frames this season. The 24-year-old righty has now allowed at least four runs in nine of his 21 starts. For now, Anderson is projected to start in Miami next week.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Rotation spot secure for now
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Anderson will remain in the rotation despite Atlanta's addition of Jake Odorizzi at the trade deadline, Maria Torres and David O'Brien of The Athletic report.
Anderson has struggled this season, posting a 4.99 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through 20 starts and 101 innings, but for now Odorizzi is viewed as a sixth starter and a swing man, not a replacement for the 24-year-old right-hander. Anderson has also been a little more consistent of late, allowing two runs or fewer runs in four of his last five outings, although the fifth start featured a seven-run implosion against the Angels. Should he regress again down the stretch, manager Brian Snitker could well swap roles between the two, but for now Anderson will stay on turn.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Dominant in Saturday's win
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Anderson (9-6) earned the win Saturday over the Diamondbacks. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out nine over six scoreless innings.
Anderson gave up both baserunners in the fifth inning, but he was able to strand runners on the corners. Atlanta's offense gave him enough support to weather a shaky ninth inning from A.J. Minter, resulting in Anderson's third win in five July starts. The right-hander allowed 11 runs in 24.2 innings for the month, though it's worse than it looks -- the Angels tagged him for seven runs last Sunday. For the season, he owns a 4.99 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 90:49 K:BB across 101 innings in 20 starts. He's projected for a tough road start versus the Mets next week.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Struggles against Angels
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Anderson (8-6) allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two in three innings to take the loss during Sunday's game against the Angels.
Anderson had held his opponents to two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts, and he picked up two wins during that time. However, he struggled during his first start after the All-Star break and gave up at least four runs in an outing for the eighth time this year. Over his last seven starts, the right-hander has posted a 6.32 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 31.1 innings. He tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Settles for no-decision
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Anderson allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five in 5.1 innings during Sunday's extra-innings win over the Nationals. He didn't factor into the decision.
Anderson picked up the win during his last outing but was forced to settle for the no-decision in Sunday's matchup that lasted 12 innings. The right-hander hasn't gone six innings in any of his last four starts, but he's given up just three runs in 10.1 innings over his last two appearances. The 24-year-old has been inconsistent over his last seven starts, posting a 5.45 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 33 innings. He tentatively lines up for a rematch against the Nationals on the road Friday.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Gets back in win column
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Anderson (7-5) earned the win during Tuesday's 7-1 victory over St. Louis, allowing one run on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts in five innings.
Anderson permitted three consecutive two-out hits in the first inning en route to surrendering his lone run. However, Atlanta quickly rallied for five runs in the bottom of the inning. It was a nice rebound from a poor June that featured a 6.91 ERA in six starts, though it was only the 24-year-old's second start in his last nine allowing one run or fewer. Anderson tentatively lines up for another start this weekend against Washington.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Another rough outing
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Anderson (6-5) allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out one across two innings to take the loss Thursday against the Phillies.
Anderson had a disastrous second inning, as he allowed the first five batters he faced to reach base -- accounting for four earned runs. After finally getting an out, Anderson served up a three-run homer to Nick Castellanos to cap off the seven-run inning. Anderson has allowed at least four earned runs in six of his last eight outings, which has inflated his ERA to 5.31 on the campaign.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Downed by Dodgers
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Anderson (6-4) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on six hits and four walks over four-plus innings as Atlanta fell 4-1 to the Dodgers. He struck out six.
The 24-year-old right-hander continues to struggle. Anderson has been tagged for at least four runs in five of his last seven starts, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 40:18 K:BB through 38.1 innings over that stretch as he fights his command both inside and outside the strike zone.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Shuts out opponent in win
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Anderson (6-3) earned the win against the Cubs on Sunday, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out six and walking two in 6.2 innings.
Anderson kept the Cubs off the scoreboard Sunday, limiting them to just three hits and no runs. He threw 59 of 99 pitches for strikes, picking up six strikeouts along the way. Sunday's appearance was Anderson's first this season without allowing an earned run and helped lower his ERA to 4.35. Though the young righty has six wins, he still has adjustments to make to keep runners from crossing the plate. Sunday's outing looks to be a step in the right direction for Anderson.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Short start Monday
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Anderson allowed four runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts in four-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Nationals on Monday.
Anderson cruised through the first three innings before allowing a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth. Luckily for the right-hander, the Atlanta offense spotted him a 6-0 lead, so he was never in much danger of taking a loss. This was still his shortest start since his first outing of the year. He's posted a 4.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 53:30 K:BB across 63.2 innings in 12 starts overall, though he's allowed four or more runs in four of his last five outings. Anderson is projected for a road start versus the Cubs this weekend.
