Anderson 'getting more comfortable,' preparing for return to rotation

SARASOTA -- Barring injury or an unforeseen development, Ian Anderson will begin the season in Atlanta¡¯s starting rotation. How long he stays there will depend on how he pitches over the remainder of Spring Training and during the first couple of weeks of the regular season.

Anderson held the Orioles scoreless through the first four innings of the Braves¡¯ 13-5 win Wednesday at Ed Smith Stadium, consistently throwing strikes and looking like a pitcher that could be valuable in Atlanta over the next few years.

But the two walks he issued after sitting through a long top of the fifth prevented the right-hander from exiting his outing feeling satisfied.

¡°I feel like the last couple [of outings] I just haven¡¯t been able to finish,¡± Anderson said. ¡°That¡¯s something I want to address. I feel like I was throwing the ball pretty well, getting a ton of ground balls and weak contact.¡±

Finishing became a little more difficult as the Braves batted for approximately 45 minutes while scoring nine runs in the fifth. Michael Harris II hit a pair of homers in the frame, with Sandy Le¨®n adding one of his own.

¡°The competitor in me says there¡¯s no excuse for that,¡± Anderson said.

Nobody has challenged Anderson¡¯s competitive spirit. The 2016 first-round pick endeared himself to Braves fans as he posted a 1.26 ERA over eight postseason starts from 2020-21. But he struggled in 2022 (5.00 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 22 starts), had Tommy John surgery in April 2023 and is now trying to prove he can live up to his early-career promise.

¡°I think it's just getting more comfortable and more confident,¡± Braves manager Brian Snitker said. ¡°I think that's the biggest thing, trusting his stuff again, and being that guy, staying on the attack and all that. As long as he's feeling good, I am.¡±

Other than pitching around a pair of second-inning walks, Anderson cruised through the first four innings in efficient fashion. A fifth-inning leadoff double followed by consecutive walks ended his outing. The free passes might have been easier to blame solely on the long wait for a pitcher who has shown better command.

Anderson has surrendered just three earned runs this spring, despite issuing 13 walks in 12 innings. He has allowed just four hits, but he also had just six strikeouts. Pitching out of consistent trouble without much swing-and-miss doesn¡¯t seem sustainable.

But Anderson still has time to make three tune-up starts before making his regular season debut.

¡°It¡¯s been a long, long process for me and obviously, I¡¯m still trying to figure things out,¡± Anderson said. ¡°But it¡¯s definitely a positive to be out there in the [fifth inning] and look up and see four zeroes behind you. Now, it¡¯s about hammering that down and really closing it.¡±

Anderson and Grant Holmes, who are both out of options, are the favorites to fill the two available spots in Atlanta¡¯s rotation. One of the two pitchers could move to the bullpen after Spencer Strider makes his expected return from elbow surgery by the end of April.