Mariners set to promote top prospect Kade Anderson for Saturday start against Cubs
Seattle plans to call up left-hander Kade Anderson, the organization’s highest-rated pitching prospect, for his major-league debut on Saturday versus Chicago as the team seeks to improve its postseason chances.
Seattle will promote left-handed prospect Kade Anderson for his major-league debut on Saturday at home against the Chicago Cubs, a move confirmed by an anonymous league source and later verified by a baseball analyst. Anderson, the No. 1 prospect on The Athletic’s latest top-70 list, was drafted in the first round out of LSU and bypassed the lower minor-league levels, debuting in Double-A Arkansas in early April.
In 18 starts this season, Anderson posted a 1.06 ERA, struck out 135 batters and issued only 13 walks, posting the lowest ERA in the Texas League. His control and command have drawn praise, with analysts noting a high whiff rate on his changeup and a walk rate of 3.9 percent, the fourth-lowest in any full-season league.
The Mariners, currently four and a half games behind the division leader and three games out of a wild-card spot, have seen their postseason odds fall to about 31 percent, according to FanGraphs. Pitching has been a weakness, with the staff posting a combined 5.56 ERA since July 21. To add Anderson to the 40-man roster, the team is expected to place right-hander Matt Brash on the 60-day injured list.
"It’s plus control and maybe plus command of a four-pitch mix highlighted by one of the minors’ best changeups," wrote analyst Keith Law, adding that Anderson’s fastball sits in the mid-90s but lacks movement.
Anderson earned the start for the American League in the recent Futures Game, delivering a clean 10-pitch inning. While his minor-league performance has been dominant, analysts caution that maintaining a 1.06 ERA at the major-league level is unlikely.