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Posted at 12:20 PM EST

Atlanta -1½ -108 over BOSTON

7:30 PM EST. To say that the Braves fans were thrilled with Atlanta taking Ian Anderson (RHP - ATL) third overall in 2016 would be somewhat of an… overstatement. By taking the right-hander out of Shenendehowa High School and signing him for over $2.5 million under slot, the Braves were able to pull off what was at the time a bevy of picks at the top of the draft. Now only five years later, that under-slot signing is looking like an astute move in its own right.

Anderson works with a plus fastball that sits around 93 and can touch 96. He gets good extension down the mound and hides the ball well, and the natural sinking action on the pitch has resulted in groundball rates north of 48%. Anderson's secondaries have come along nicely since his draft, with both his curve and change as pitches that flash plus more and more, giving him the potential for three plus pitches in the majors. The delivery is pretty solid, the issues are more release point related, and most evaluators expect that he'll be able to clean everything up to get to average command of his repertoire in time. Knock on wood, but Anderson also hasn't hit the IL once in his four professional seasons. He still has to transition, and it may initially be a little rocky, but the ingredients are here for a dominant, innings-eating starter who is knocking on the door of No. 1 starter profile. 

Ian Anderson may have been sitting on a park bench sometime during the pandemic but just five days ago he made his MLB debut against the Yankees. Imagine that at 22-yyears old. Showing he has ice in his veins, the kid went out and pitched six full and allowed just one run while striking out six. He also had a 14% swing and miss rate and an 82% first-pitch strike rate. He’ll now face a Red Sox team that did some house-cleaning over the last few days.

Kevin Pillar was traded from the Red Sox to the Rockies on Monday. Pillar saw heavy playing time in Boston's outfield while slashing .274/.325/.470 with 13 extra-base hits, 20 runs and 13 RBI to begin the season. Also gone is Mitch Moreland to the Padres and relievers Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and Josh Osich. In total, the Red Sox traded five veterans for six new players. All six players acquired are prospects with the exception of Nick Pivetta, who may or may not pitch again this year. The Red Sox will now be looking for bodies to play and pitchers to eat  innings the rest of the year. One of those pitchers goes today. 

Ryan Weber has struck out 11 batters and walked 11 batters in 24 frames this year. His swing and miss rate is 4.3% (not a typo). Bob Barker might be able to duplicate that if he were to take the mound today. Weber’s fastball tops off at 88 MPH and just about every batter hs faces puts the ball in play. If Atlanta can’t put up a crooked number here and the Braves can’t win by more than one run, well, that’s why they play the games.  

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