Page 83 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

IAN ANDERSON
• Became just the 18th pitcher in baseball’s • Bret Saberhagen (1985 World Series &
live-ball era (since 1920) to start against ALCS), Fernando Valenzuela (1981 NLCS), FRONT OFFICE
both the Yankees and Red Sox in their Marty Bystrom (1980 NLCS) and Don
first two games, with the Angels’ Jason Gullett (1972 NLCS) are the only other
Dickson doing so last in 1996. pitchers younger than Anderson to start a
• Of the 17 starters prior to Anderson to winner-take-all playoff game.
face the Yankees and Red Sox in their • Made his second career postseason start in
first two games since 1920 just one had Game 2 of the NLDS and held Miami to just three
earned the win in both games. hits and one walk over 5.2 scoreless innings, MANAGER & STAFF
• Cleveland’s Luis Tiant beat the Yankees, striking out eight.
3-0 in his debut on July 19, 1964, before • Blanked Cincinnati in his playoff debut,
beating the Red Sox, 6-1, on July 24. and became just the third pitcher in
• Started on September 12 vs. Washington and set franchise history with back-to-back
career highs in innings (7.0) and strikeouts (9) scoreless starts in the postseason…Steve
while holding the Nationals scoreless over 7.0 Avery did so in Games 2 and 6 of the 1991
one-hit innings. NLCS at Pittsburgh, and Lew Burdette did
• Anderson also allowed one hit over 6.0 so in Games 5 and 7 of the 1957 World IAN ANDERSON
innings in his MLB debut...He became Series vs. New York.
just the second pitcher over the last 120 • Anderson is the first pitcher in franchise
seasons to allow one hit or less in two history with multiple scoreless postseason
starts of at least 6.0 innings within his first starts in which he allowed no more than
four career appearances…The only other three hits and struck out at least eight
pitcher to do so was Philadelphia’s Marvin after doing so in each of his first two
Freeman in 1986. postseason appearances…He is just the SEASON IN REVIEW
eighth pitcher in history with two such
2020 POSTSEASON playoff starts, joining Trevor Bauer, Kevin
• Made four starts in the postseason and went 2-0 Brown, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson,
with a 0.96 ERA (2 ER/18.2 IP) and 24 strikeouts… Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez and Justin
Pitched Game 2 of the Wild Card Series vs. Verlander…No pitcher has three such
Cincinnati, Game 2 of the NLDS vs. Miami and starts in the playoffs.
Games 2 and 7 of the NLCS vs. Los Angeles. • With his start in the Wild Card Game, became
the first pitcher in franchise history to start in PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
• Did not allow a run in any of his first three career
playoff starts. the postseason despite making no more than six
career regular season appearances.
• He is the first pitcher in franchise history
to make three straight playoff starts and • Anderson was the first pitcher in baseball
not allow a run…Anderson is one of to make a postseason start with no more
just two pitchers in baseball history to than six career regular season games
open their postseason career with three since Cleveland’s Ryan Merritt in Game 5
consecutive scoreless starts of at least of the 2016 ALCS vs. Toronto. BRAVES HISTORY
Mathewson…Mathewson pitched shutouts minor league notes
4.0 innings, joining Hall-of-Famer Christy
in Game 1, Game 3 and Game 5 of the • Has pitched four seasons at the minor league
1905 World Series in his first three playoff level, all in Atlanta’s system, and is 17-21 with a
starts. 2.91 ERA (122 ER/377.2 IP) over 80 starts.
• Started Game 7 of the NLCS and is the first Braves • Was named a Southern League Mid-Season All-
rookie to ever start a winner-take-all playoff Star, a Baseball America Double-A All-Star and an
game…Anderson started at 22 years, 169 days MiLB.com Organizational All-Star in 2019 after OPPONENTS
old, and is the sixth youngest pitcher in history to pitching for Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A
start a winner-take-all playoff game. Gwinnett.
• He is the youngest to do so since • Combined to go 8-7 with a 3.38 ERA
Cleveland’s Jaret Wright started Game 7 (51 ER/135.2 IP) between the two stops,
of the 1997 World Series at 21 years, 301 including a 2.68 ERA in 21 games with
days. Mississippi. MISCELLANEOUS

2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE 83