Ian Anderson, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Bryce Elder are the top candidates to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Padres. Anderson has some of the best postseason numbers of all-time, but he hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2022.
Elder, who was an All-Star selection in 2023, made 10 starts with Atlanta this season, but struggled to a 6.52 ERA giving up 11.6 hits per nine innings. In his career, he's made 50 starts with Atlanta since debuting in 2022.
Smith-Shawver only made one start with Atlanta this year, yielding no runs in 4.1 innings in his only appearance. The 21-year-old made five starts for Atlanta in 2023.
Anderson has the most postseason experience - and success - of the three possible starters. He has started eight games, with a 4-0 record, pitching 35.1 innings and allowing only five earned runs.
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