NL DIVISION SERIES: BREWERS VS BRAVES

October 10, 2021

Ian Anderson

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. How much different does this year feel going into the postseason than last year?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, it feels quite a bit different. I was talking to Jonathan, I think this is my first in-person media kind of deal. Even that alone shows a lot different.

But, yeah, the environment in Milwaukee the first two games, having the fans in the stands and it feels quite a bit different.

Q. What did you think of the job that Charlie and Max did in those first two games? And did that get you even more psyched to get out there?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, unbelievable. You can't say enough about what those two guys are able to do. There were no nerves for them at all. If there were, they did a good job of closing those off. They both threw the ball about as well as you could, I thought. They dominated for stretches of their outings. And it's going to be fun to see if I can replicate that.

Q. What do you think making a start in the postseason in front of your home crowd for the first time, what do you think that will do for you?

IAN ANDERSON: It's going to be fun. I think I've definitely come a long way from making my first home start in front of fans earlier in the season. So I think this is going to be another step. And I know the fans are going to bring it. And I'm looking forward to it.

Q. What can you draw upon last season's postseason experience, because Charlie and Max, they had pitched in front of fans in the postseason before. You did not really. But you had a lot of experience. So what can you kind of draw from that coming into this where you are going to have like 45,000 people going crazy?

IAN ANDERSON: I think I'll be a little bit more comfortable. There's not going to be those first-time nerves kind of because I did go through it last year. And I got that experience. So I think it's going to be just channelling that energy from the crowd and not getting too overhyped, just sticking to my game and kind of what those two guys did.

Q. The Thursday night, the division clincher, big crowd in here that night. Was that maybe really, if you're going to think about a performance in front of people, did that --

IAN ANDERSON: No, that definitely did. I think there's just a heightened sense of kind of everything. Everything you're feeling. The focus can be heightened. The nerves and everything can just kind of be brought up a little bit more with that big crowd. And it's just kind of how you deal with that.

And I think watching Max and Charlie, their mindset showing up to the field, the way that they took the ball from pitch one to when they handed the ball off was something that I'm definitely going to draw off of and kind of channel that.

Q. You won your last two starts coming into the postseason. Do you feel like you're at a good place at this time of the season?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. What I did last year has given me confidence at this time of year. And I feel like since I've come back from my injury, it's kind of been a little bit of a slower progression than I wanted but I feel like I'm in a good spot repertoire-wise and delivery-wise. Yeah, I feel good going into it.

Q. In a full season this year, have your bullpens or your days in between changed a little bit. Have you fallen into a routine you're really comfortable with?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, definitely changed. Definitely changed quite a bit. I would probably say a little bit less throwing than I was doing last year. I was kind of flying by last year, just enjoying it. And this year, it's definitely been a little bit different. And it's an adjustment that I've made. And I feel comfortable with where I'm at.

Q. Out of curiosity, with the extra days you have between your last start and tomorrow's start, do you do any extra prep work in terms of studying hitters? Do you find yourself doubling up on everything? Or is it the same amount, or what?

IAN ANDERSON: Probably about the same amount. I was able to throw a live batting practice the other day before we left for Milwaukee.

So that was definitely good, definitely needed that with all the days off. As far as studying hitters, I go through my normal processes going into the game.

Q. When you're on the mound in a pressure situation, like you'll be tomorrow, do you channel or do you think back to any advice that anybody gave you along the way, in particular -- someone in particular, something that stayed with you, whether it's from 10 years ago or two months ago?

IAN ANDERSON: I don't know. I think there's just something about being the pitcher. You start the game. The game can't start without you. And that's something I've heard from my dad. I've heard from coaches coming up. I've heard from Kranny.

You're in control. So if something doesn't feel right, you don't have to go. You can step off, do things like that. So I think that's part of what I enjoy most about being a pitcher. And I think that's something that is definitely something to keep in mind when you're out there and the game speeds up and the crowd gets loud.