Ian Anderson will start Game 2 of NLCS for Braves

The Braves will use Ian Anderson as their starting pitcher against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday. Veteran Charlie Morton will start Game 3.

“It was about giving Charlie an extra day of rest,” manager Brian Snitker said. Morton was brought back on short rest for Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Brewers on Tuesday, logging 3-1/3 innings.

Morton will receive extra rest before starting Game 3 on Tuesday, which is when the series shifts to Los Angeles. Anderson, meanwhile, will face the Dodgers for the third time in his young postseason career. He had a 2.57 ERA over two starts (seven innings) against the Dodgers in the 2020 NLCS.

The Braves haven’t set their pitching plans beyond Game 3, but they’re likely to use a bullpen game at some point, Snitker said Thursday. The Braves have Huascar Ynoa, Drew Smyly and Jesse Chavez in their bullpen as relievers who can cover multiple innings.

The NLCS began with a 3-2 win by the Braves Saturday at Truist Park. The Braves started lefty Max Fried. The Dodgers started reliever Corey Knebel as an “opener” in a bullpen game.

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