NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 16, 2021

Ian Anderson

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. Ian, I'm sure you weren't surprised by this announcement. They probably told you this yesterday. What does that experience in the ALCS last year do, especially when it's the same opponent this year?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, I'm definitely excited to get the ball tomorrow and pitch deep into the game and give the team a good chance to win. The experience of last year and going up against the same opponent is going to be huge for us, I think.

Obviously the situation is lot different. Both teams are quite a bit different. The stadiums are a lot different, so we're going to have to figure that aspect of it out, but last year will definitely help.

Q. When you look at this Dodger lineup, in preparing for them, what stands out the most?

IAN ANDERSON: Man, I think it's just the quality from top to bottom. The at-bats that they put up, they're one of the few teams that don't give away any at-bats, even in the big leagues, and it's tough. You have to make your pitches, 1 through 8, 1 through 9 even. You got to stay on the attack and make your pitches or they're going to make you pay. The last thing you want to do is give them free bases and extra outs and that's going to be the big key.

Q. What, if anything, do you think has helped you with your success so far in the postseason? Last year I know there were no crowds until the end and little small crowds, but were you able to transition kind of going from no crowds to a little bit more or what do you owe being so good right off the bat?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, I've kind of been preparing all year for this. Making my first start back in April at home in front of fans was a good way to get it going. When I was making that start I was kind of thinking ahead to what this could be like. So to be here now it will be fun to experience it.

But I think you got to look at the team that they put out there behind me. The amount of confidence you get from the guys behind you, the defense behind you that have now experienced it for four years, and the catching with Travis back there, it just gives you so much confidence. And I think Max and Charlie, guys that have experienced a little bit more would say the same, the defense and the catching is so good that it kind of leaves little for you to think about out there.

Q. You were just talking about the familiarity with the Dodgers. Max yesterday said that helps and hurts you. How specifically does it help just to know those hitters?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, I mean, it's the playoffs, so some guys tend to step up, some guys tend to falter, but knowing these guys will definitely help, just kind of formulate a game plan. We kind of know what they like to do offensively and I think that's going to be a big part of the chess match of kind of figuring things out as how we pitch to these guys and how we go.

Q. When you look at the swing and miss with the changeup there in that last start against the Brewers, was that a sign that you moved that much further past where you were when you first came off the Injured List?

IAN ANDERSON: Yeah, definitely. That's a pitch that I like to look at and I'm sure most people do as kind of the, to check off the box that I feel like I'm where I need to be, so that was obviously a good sign. It's going to be another test tomorrow to kind of see where it is, but if it's not going I have two other pitches that I'll be able to go to and that's kind of the fun of being a starting pitcher, you have a chance to kind of figure things out and hopefully you figure it out before it's too late.