When Atlanta Braves rookie Ian Anderson takes the mound Tuesday night in Game 2 of the NLCS he’ll experience a thrill he’s never encountered before. And with his team up a game, three wins away from the World Series, the setting may amplify emotions, for sure.
Anderson’s parents have never seen him pitch a Major League game in person. Tuesday night’s start will be the first shot to see their 22-year-old son live.
Anderson made his big-league debut on August 26, a six-inning, one-hit gem to beat the New York Yankees. COVID protocols kept fans from entering the stadium. In fact, each of Anderson’s six regular-season starts, and both his postseason outings, have been without a crowd. That hasn’t seemed to affect him.
“I think as each game goes on and each series kind of goes on, you get a little more excited to just get back out there,” Anderson said Monday. “My family is going to be able to be in attendance this round, so definitely I’m excited to get back out there.”
Anderson compiled a 3-2 record through six starts with a 1.95 ERA, striking out 41 batters in 32 1/3 innings of work. He’s only allowed 21 hits. In the postseason he’s been even better.
In two-hitting the Reds through six innings and three-hitting Miami in 5 2/3, Anderson hasn’t given up a postseason earned run. He’s notched 17 strikeouts and only walked three in 11 2/3 innings.
Anderson will surely have extra emotions to work with as his family gets to watch in person in Arlington, but those feelings won’t be the only new experience he’s deal with. Anderson has never pitched in the big leagues in front of a crowd.
“I’ve been asking everyone ‘What’s it like with fans in the stands and hearing the crowd roar?’”