A brave new world
Anderson set to go in Game 2 of NLCS before parents, brother
Ian Anderson will have some added pressure when he starts NLCS Game 2 — his parents will be in the stands./
Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson will make his latest start of a storybook rookie season in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
For the first time in his brief major league career, Anderson will have family in attendance.
His parents, Bob and Karen, and twin brother, Ben, will be among as many as 11,500 fans allowed into Globe Life Field when Anderson pitches for the Atlanta Braves against the Los Angeles Dodgers. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
“I think as each game goes on and each series kind of goes on, you get a little more excited to just get back out there, and my family is going to be able to be in attendance this round, so definitely I’m excited to get back out there,” Ian Anderson said on a Zoom conference call.
Each of Anderson’s six regular-season and two playoff appearances were played without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. The NLCS and
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World Series are being played at Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers’ ballpark, as a neutral-site “bubble” location.
“This whole year has been interesting, definitely,” Anderson said. “But we’ve made it this far and I’m looking forward to just keeping it going.”
Bob and Karen Anderson flew into Texas on Sunday and will be joined on Tuesday by Ben, who is a pitching prospect in the Rangers’ system.
Bob Anderson joked it will be hard to give up his lucky chair in his home in Rexford, where he’s watched on television as Ian has baffled big league hitters. Ian Anderson has pitched 11 2/3 shutout innings in postseason victories over the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins.
“We’re very excited,” Bob Anderson said. “Not being able to see his debut and finally getting the chance to see him pitch in the majors, and it’s in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, it’s just unbelievable.”
Ben Anderson said he hasn’t seen his brother pitch in person since Ian was in high Class A minorleague baseball in Florida two years ago.
“Very excited to see him go in person,” Ben Anderson texted. “Will be
cool to see the Rangers new stadium as well and see some extremely high level competition. Really looking forward to it.”
The Andersons plan on staying in Texas as long as the Braves remain in the playoffs. They were unsure if they'll be able to spend time with Ian because of COVID -19 precautions.
“It’s going to be tough to sit there and try to stay as cool as he is out on the mound,” Bob Anderson said.
Ian Anderson will be matched up Tuesday against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner.
“Yeah, it’s going to be special,’’ Ian Anderson said. “The career he’s had up until this point, and arguably the best pitcher I would say of my era. Watching him growing up, he’s the guy who just got it done year in and year out
and put up some impressive seasons – a guy you always strive to be. Me being right-handed, I knew I’d never get there, but he’s impressive and looking forward to kind of going toe to toe with him.”
Ian Anderson must deal with a Dodgers lineup that was the highest-scoring in the majors in this abbreviated 60-game regular season, by just one run more than the Braves. Los Angeles features right fielder Mookie Betts, the former American League MVP with the Boston Red Sox.
It should be the most formidable lineup Anderson has faced this year. He beat the Yankees 5-1 in his major league debut on Aug. 26, but New York didn’t have Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton or DJ Lemahieu that night because of injury.
“It’s obviously a very good team,” Anderson said of the Dodgers. “They’re well-balanced one through nine and have a lot of power, so I’m going to have to make my pitches and mix up the pitches and try to get ahead and go from there.”