Editorials

Dodgers News: Brett Anderson Discusses Injury Concern, Facing Athletics

After managing to pitch just 2.2 innings on July 21 in Atlanta, Brett Anderson recovered in time from Achilles soreness so that he didn’t need to be skipped over in the rotation. However, with Zack Greinke’s scheduled start in New York getting pushed back, Anderson was afforded extra rest.

That aligned Anderson to face the Oakland Athletics, his former team, Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. His agility was quickly tested by a line drive that forced him to spin and drop out of the way to avoid being hit.

“There wasn’t really an easing into the game with Billy Burns hitting a rocket at my face on the first pitch [of the game],” Anderson said. He went on to allow four more hits, including a home run, over seven innings of work.

While Anderson pitched well enough to earn a win, he was the victim of the Dodgers being shut down by Sonny Gray. “He’s really, really good,” Anderson said of the Athletics’ right-hander. “He’s a tremendous pitcher and he showed that tonight.”

Gray scattered three hits over nine innings of shutout work to earn his 11th win of the season. Gray is one of the few players who was with Oakland during the same period Anderson was, which left for little nostalgia Tuesday.

As for Anderson’s health, he said the concern over his Achilles was put out of mind once play began. The soreness from the bone pushing against the Achilles tendon is something that will need to be monitored.

With the Dodgers firmly entrenched in trade rumors to acquire a starting pitcher, or pitchers, Anderson is confident he brings value to the rotation. “I think I can help,” he said. “If I can just do my part and not have too big of a drop off after the first two guys and give us a chance, I like my spot in the rotation. I think I’m a good pitcher.”

The 20 starts Anderson has made this season is the most since his rookie season (2009) with Oakland. Additionally, with 117.2 innings pitched under his belt in 2015, Anderson has nearly matched the total from the last three seasons — 123 innings.

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