The M's prized left-handed had thrown 3.1 scoreless innings when he was removed in the fourth.
At 74-86 entering play on Saturday, the Seattle Mariners season hasn't gone the way that anyone would have planned.
On Saturday night, the penultimate game of the season didn't go the way the Mariners planned either. Rookie starter Kade Anderson was removed in the top of the fourth inning after getting hit by a 104 mph line drive off the bat of Christian Moore of the Los Angeles Angels.
Anderson avoided getting hit in the side, but his left arm took the brunt of the blow. It appears to have hit him in the bicep/tricep area.
He worked 3.1 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out four. He walked only one. He tried to stay in the game, but ultimately was removed before the next batter.
Update: Anderson's X-rays were negative.
About Anderson
The No. 3 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of LSU, Anderson was making his seventh start of the season, and he was coming off a historic start at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies.
His season will end with him going 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA. He struck out 32 batters in 35.2 innings.
In the minor leagues this season, Anderson delivered arguably the best pitching season we've ever seen, going 10-1 at Double-A Arkansas with a 1.06 ERA. He won a slew of minor league awards this week, and is up for multiple others.
About the future
While we don't know what spring training will look like in 2027 because of labor issues, it does appear that Anderson will walk into 2027 with a spot in the rotation.
Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Emerson Hancock, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo are all under contract for next year, so it's possible that one of them is moved to make room for Anderson full-time, but regardless, Anderson is a big part of the team's future. The Mariners also have Logan Evans returning from Tommy John surgery, and top prospect Ryan Sloan is knocking on the door.
Up next
The Mariners and Angels will finish out the regular season on Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Park. Gilbert is on the mound for the final time in 2026. It could be the final game for M's infielder JP Crawford, who is the longest-tenured Mariners player. He debuted with the team in 2019.
Crawford is a free agent, as is Randy Arozarena.
Of note
The latest episode of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, talking about the impact of Crawford and Rick Rizzs on the organization, as well as where things went wrong for the Mariners this year, leadership and focus problems and much more. You can watch in the YouTube player below.
