After a 2024 season that felt more like a battle against the injury bug than a proper title run, the Atlanta Braves are back in 2025 with a mission: stay healthy, stay dominant, and get back to the World Series.
Easier said than done, right? Especially when injuries are already creeping in before Opening Day. But every setback creates an opportunity, and for pitcher Ian Anderson, this might just be the comeback story the Braves need.
Ian Anderson’s Chance to Shine
With Spencer Strider sidelined, the Braves are looking to Anderson to step up in a big way. Now, Anderson has been here before. He was a key piece of the puzzle during the Braves’ 2021 championship run. He showed exactly the kind of poise and dominance that made him one of the game’s most promising young arms.
But baseball, as we all know, has a way of throwing curveballs, and Anderson has had his fair share. He hasn’t pitched at the Major League level since 2022. He was spending the last couple of years battling injuries and working his way back. Now, he’s got a chance at redemption, and Braves manager Brian Snitker likes what he sees.
“I think it’s just getting more comfortable and more confident,” Snitker told MLB.com. “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.”
Signs of a Strong Return
That’s the key right there—trusting his stuff. Because when Anderson is locked in, he’s got the kind of arsenal that can shut down some of the best hitters in baseball.
In spring training, he’s shown flashes of that old magic. After a recent outing in which he pitched four scoreless innings, he acknowledged that the road back has been a long one, but he’s starting to feel like himself again.
“It’s been a long, long process for me, and obviously, I’m still trying to figure things out,” Anderson admitted. “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.”
The Braves’ Big Picture
And that’s the mindset the Braves need right now—because, make no mistake, this team isn’t here just to compete. They’re here to win. Atlanta has a stacked lineup, a strong core of veterans, and a pitching staff that’s still loaded with talent even with Strider out. The Braves have every reason to believe they’ll be in the mix for another deep postseason run.
Of course, health is going to be the biggest X-factor. The 2024 season proved how quickly things can unravel when key players go down. But if Anderson can find his groove again and give this rotation the stability it needs, the Braves are going to be dangerous in 2025.
