Top 5 MLB prospects who could impact playoff races

3. Ian Anderson

The Atlanta Braves spent most of their rebuilding process acquiring as many talented young pitchers as possible in hopes that one of them would emerge from the fray as a true ace. As the Braves move out of their rebuild and into their championship window, the returns on that plan are mixed, at best. Mike Soroka looks like the real deal, while Max Fried has held his own. After promising seasons last year, Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb have regressed. Newcomb has been sent to the bullpen, while Foltynewicz was demoted to the Minor Leagues with a 6.37 ERA in 11 starts.

As the regular season winds down and the focus turns to October, the Braves may be in need of more help in the rotation. Kevin Gausman, who pitched well initially after last season’s trade, was a disaster in 16 starts this season, giving the Braves a 6.19 ERA and allowing over 10 hits per-nine. The right-hander was just waived and sent to the Cincinnati Reds and is a non-tender candidate this offseason.

The best option for the Braves, who remade their bullpen at the trade deadline, would be to call up 21-year-old right-hander Ian Anderson. The lanky right-hander has experienced nothing but success in his four-year professional career. He has a 2.65 ERA in 353 innings in the Minor Leagues and has struck out 11.9 per-nine in 21 starts at Double-A this year.

There’s certainly a case to be made that the Braves don’t need to rush the 21-year-old up to the big leagues this year given their large lead in the NL East. Anderson hasn’t given the Braves any reason to hold him back. If he’s ready, there’s no point wasting the start of next season at Triple-A.