Phillies: Drew Anderson scratched, big league start looming
One of the Phillies top pitching prospects could be coming up for a spot start
Phillies right-handed starting pitching prospect Drew Anderson was scratched from his start on Saturday for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. With the Phillies losing Vince Velasquez to a right-arm contusion last week, Anderson could be on his way to Philadelphia for a spot start.
This season for the IronPigs, Anderson is 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 starts, with opponents hitting .228 against him.
Anderson, a 21st round pick in 2012 out of high school, is rated by MLB Pipeline as the Phillies 21st prospect. The 24-year-old was the only starting pitcher on the Phillies 40-man roster in Lehigh Valley.
Last season Anderson made two relief appearances for the Phillies that resulted in the young righty being rocked by the Angels and Cubs. Anderson has a 23.14 ERA in 2.1 innings after allowing six hits and six earned runs in his two games.
Drew Anderson, @IronPigs scheduled starter tonight, is throwing on flat ground now with Enyel De Los Santos. That means he's not starting tonight, could be starting in the next couple of days for @Phillies in Vince Velasquez's absence. Anderson is on Phils' 40-man roster
— Tom Housenick (@TomHousenick) July 7, 2018
When Velasquez went down Anderson was one of many talented arms in Lehigh Valley taken under consideration. Enyel De Los Santos has been the star for Lehigh Valley with a 1.89 ERA, leading to him being named to the Futures Game.
Cole Irvin could have been another option for Philadelphia after an eight-win season for the IronPigs in 17 starts.
Had the Phillies wanted to give De Los Santos or Irvin a spot start, they would have needed to move Pedro Florimon to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster.
It’s unclear which game Anderson will start, but it will likely be within the next three days. The Phillies haven’t announced their starter for Sunday night’s game in Pittsburgh or any of their games in New York against the Mets.
In his last start for the IronPigs Anderson went just three and two-thirds of an inning allowing six earned runs with two walks and a strikeout.