Braves rumors: 3 best short-term replacements for Max Fried

Ian Anderson can keep Max Fried’s seat warm, but we have already seen enough

Another option the Braves could consider if Fried does have to go on IL for a bit is Soroka’s North Port roommate and former Atlanta starter Ian Anderson. While Anderson was a revelation during the shortened 2020 campaign, he has gotten progressively worse every season since then. It is a combination of command, not having enough juice on his fastball and getting lost in his own head.

From a go out there and pitch every day perspective, Anderson is certainly capable of filling that role. However, he is about one bad run in the Atlanta rotation away from being cast aside forever. Simply put, Anderson faces immense pressure to get back to being what Atlanta thought it had in him two-to-three years ago. Health is not an issue for him, but he can no longer pitch horrifically.

He is not reckless on the mound, but the variance is a bit much. You never really know what you are going to get out of him on a regular basis anymore. Even more so, I just have a bad feeling the pitch clock could make things even more challenging for him. Then again, he did spend the latter part of last season down in Triple-A Gwinnett, so he might actually have some familiarity with it.

Let’s hope that if Anderson gets called up that he gets plenty of run support from the Braves bats.