With the regular season nearly upon us, the Atlanta Braves are just hoping everyone can stay healthy. They may have avoided a scare with Ian Anderson on Monday.
The Atlanta Braves open the regular season on Thursday and have just one Spring Training game remaining on Tuesday. Keeping everyone healthy these last couple of days is imperative.
That’s why it was so concerning when starter Ian Anderson left after just 3 innings on Monday in what was to be his final tune-up before the regular season begins.
Watching the Rays broadcast, they made several mentions of the fact that Ian’s velocity was down a couple of miles per hour. Then as he was warming up to start his fourth frame, he came out of the game with the trainer.
Although, when he came off the field he was smiling, so the hope was it was nothing serious.
The Atlanta Braves later announced during the game that he left as a precaution with a blister on his right toe. And maybe even more importantly, he’s still on schedule to make his first start of the season on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Anderson was already pushed back a day this Spring after one of his scheduled starts was rained out. His last start against the Red Sox was not great as he gave up 6 earned runs on 7 hits in just 2 innings.
He wasn’t able to go longer than 3 innings in any of his Spring Training, which makes you wonder how limited he’ll be to begin the season.
It would not be surprising at all if manager Brian Snitker limits him to around 60-70 pitches on Sunday.
Braves fans can at least breathe a sigh of relief in knowing it’s nothing serious. But with the oddness to Anderson’s Spring, which was already a shortened Spring Training, this does give a little worry going into 2022.