Anderson is a candidate to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Bowman stated that AJ Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder are also in the mix, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club wait until closer to first pitch to announce who will get the start. Anderson hasn't pitched in the big league since 2022 but has impressive postseason numbers, as he's posted a 1.26 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a 40:17 K:BB across 35.2 innings (eight starts).
Anderson tossed six scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and seven strikeouts Thursday for Triple-A Gwinnett against Norfolk.
David O'Brien of The Athletic speculates that Anderson appears close to ready to help the big-league rotation after this strong outing on 93 pitches. Anderson had a 3.86 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and an 8:6 K:BB over 11.2 innings in his previous two starts at Triple-A, so things are trending up. The 26-year-old righty had Tommy John surgery in April of 2023 and began his rehab assignment two months ago. Grant Holmes has been holding his own as Atlanta's fifth starter and Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) is due back soon, so it's unclear when Anderson will get the call.
Braves' Ian Anderson: Returns from Triple-A injured list
Rotowire
Triple-A Gwinnett reinstated Anderson (elbow) from its 60-day injured list Thursday.
Anderson made his 2024 debut for Gwinnett on Saturday, when he struck out four over 3.2 innings while giving up four earned runs on six hits and one walk in a no-decision against Charlotte. Before being activated from the IL, Anderson made four rehab starts across three levels, producing a 2.19 ERA and 10:1 K:BB in 12.1 innings over those outings. Anderson owns a 3.99 ERA over 266.1 career innings in the majors and still retains a spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster, but the 26-year-old hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2022 after opening the 2023 season at Gwinnett and making one start before requiring Tommy John surgery last April. He'll likely need to string together several quality performances at Gwinnett before making a legitimate case for a return to the big leagues.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Rehab transferred to Triple-A
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) will start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Saturday's outing will be Anderson's first at the Triple-A level and the fifth start of his rehab stint. The 26-year-old has been recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2023 and worked up to 46 pitches in his last rehab outing. Anderson will likely only require one or two more starts before being activated, although it's not clear if Atlanta has a spot for him in the big-league rotation.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Rehab shifting to Double-A
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) will make a rehab appearance with Double-A Rome on Friday.
Anderson last pitched June 30 and completed three innings with Single-A Augusta. It's expected that he will make at least one additional rehab outing after Friday's start, though Atlanta will likely want to see Anderson ramp up his workload after throwing 46 pitches in his previous outing.
Braves' Ian Anderson: On track for return after ASB
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) threw three scoreless innings in a rehab start for Single-A Augusta on Sunday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one.
After two rehab starts in the Florida Complex League in which he posted a 7:0 K:BB over five innings while giving up just one run, Anderson got bumped up to Single-A and delivered another strong performance as he nears the finish line on his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander built up to 46 pitches (29 strikes) on Sunday, and he's expected to make at least two more rehab appearances before becoming an option for Atlanta's rotation after the All-Star break.
Braves' Ian Anderson: Next rehab start to come Sunday
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) threw three innings with Atlanta's Florida Complex League affiliate Monday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three, and his next rehab start will come Sunday with a different affiliate, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The right-hander has been sitting 92-95 mph with his fastball during two appearances in the FCL, and the organization is pleased with his progress so far. "Reports are good, he feels good, all the numbers are good," manager Brian Snitker said Monday. Anderson is in the final stages of his recovery from April 2023 Tommy John surgery, but Atlanta seems likely to let him get fully built up in the minors before considering him for the big-league rotation. The team has yet to announce which level he'll be sent to for his next outing.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Returning to mound
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) will pitch in a Florida Complex League game Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Anderson has been working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2023 and Tuesday's outing will be his first in the recovery process. The right-hander will likely need to build up his workload over a series of weeks, including a multi-start rehab assignment before he'd be able to be activated from the minor-league 60-day injured list, but Tuesday is a welcome sign nonetheless.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Goes on Triple-A IL
Rotowire
Triple-A Gwinnett placed Anderson on its 60-day injured list March 28.
Anderson remains on Atlanta's 40-man roster, but because he was optioned to Triple-A in March, he'll begin the season on Gwinnet's 60-day IL rather than the big club's. The right-hander isn't expected to be ready to pitch in games until the second half of the season while he completes his recovery from April 2023 Tommy John surgery.
Anderson (elbow) was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday.
Anderson will be sidelined until around midseason while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately for him, he was injured while in the minors, which means he can be optioned rather than placed on the 60-day injured list and earn a major-league paycheck.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: On course in recovery
Rotowire
Anderson is throwing long toss from 120 feet, and he's on schedule in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old right-hander underwent surgery in April 2023 and is targeting a midseason return to the mound. Atlanta may not have room for him in its big-league rotation once he's ready for game action however, especially if Anderson can't regain the form that saw him produce a 3.58 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 124:53 K:BB through 128.1 innings in 2021, before a rough 2022 may have provided an early signal that his elbow wasn't 100 percent. Anderson still has a minor-league option remaining, so it wouldn't be surprising if he spent the second half of 2024 at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Braves' Ian Anderson: Aiming for midsummer return
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) told reporters Tuesday that he's hoping to be ready to return by the middle of the summer, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
It's a vague timetable, which is not unexpected with Anderson about 10 months removed from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander also revealed that he's altered his delivery a bit since resuming a throwing program, dropping his arm angle so he's not as over-the-top as he used to be. Anderson showed initial promise but struggled in 2022 before missing nearly all of 2023, so Atlanta won't necessarily be counting on him to contribute in 2024.
