Strider (0-2) took the loss in Tuesday's game against the Nationals, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three across 4.1 innings.
Strider was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's start after missing the last month due to a strained hamstring. He got off to a poor start by yielding three first-inning runs before giving up a fourth run in the second on a Dylan Crews solo homer. Strider has been limited to just two starts this season due to injury and has a 5.79 ERA and 1.39 WHIP across 9.1 innings. He'll look for his first win of the season in his next start, which is lined up for this weekend at home against San Diego.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Likely to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Strider (hamstring) appears set to return to Atlanta's rotation Tuesday versus Washington, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Manager Brian Snitker said late last week that Strider would be activated from the injured list to start one of the team's three games in Washington, and given that Atlanta has listed AJ Smith-Shawver and Chris Sale as its probable pitchers for Wednesday and Thursday, the writing is on the wall for Strider to return for the first game of the series. The ace right-hander will forego a minor-league rehab assignment, though he did toss 65 pitches in a sim game last Wednesday. He could be on some sort of a pitch count in his return, but he'll draw a favorable assignment against a Nationals lineup that ranks 20th in MLB in team OPS (.688).
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Returning against Nationals
Rotowire
Manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that Strider (hamstring) will be activated off the injured list to start one of Atlanta's games in Washington next week, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.
It's still unclear exactly which game Strider will pitch in Atlanta's upcoming three-game series against the Nationals, but Snitker's comments confirm that the 26-year-old righty will return to the rotation without making a rehab start in the minors. Strider only built up to 65 pitches and experienced decreased velocity during his sim game Wednesday, so there's a chance he'll be working under some workload restrictions when he makes his return from a strained right hamstring.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Velocity down in sim game
Rotowire
Strider (hamstring) threw 65 pitches over five innings in a simulated game Wednesday, but after sitting around 95-to-96 miles per hour with his fastball in the first frame, his velocity declined for the rest of the workout, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander hadn't faced hitters in any setting in nearly a month after straining his hamstring while playing catch April 21, and manager Brian Snitker indicated the reduction in velocity was due to that inactivity, not any health concerns. Atlanta has yet to decide if it wants to send Strider for a rehab start before activating him from the 15-day injured list, and rejoining the big-league rotation for a road series against the Nationals early next week remains on the table.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Tossing sim game Wednesday
Rotowire
Strider (hamstring) is scheduled to throw 70-to-75 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The upcoming sim game takes Strider out of the running from returning from the 15-day injured list this week, but if all goes well Wednesday, he could bypass a minor-league rehab start and rejoin the Atlanta rotation for the start of their series in Washington that begins May 20. After making a speedy recovery from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow last spring, Strider tossed five innings in his 2025 debut for Atlanta on April 16, then went back on the IL five days later after straining his right hamstring while playing catch.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Next step undecided
Rotowire
Strider (hamstring) said that he feels ready to return from the 15-day injured list, but Atlanta has yet to decide whether he'll be activated during the upcoming week or go on a minor-league rehab assignment, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Strider has been on the shelf since April 21 due to a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, which he sustained while playing catch. He received a platelet-poor plasma injection two days later that he credits with hastening his recovery. The right-hander has responded well to bullpen sessions Wednesday and Saturday, but Atlanta may want to have him face hitters in a simulated game or in a minor-league rehab start before bringing him back from the IL. If Strider is cleared to return during the upcoming week, his workload could be managed carefully in what would be his first outing since April 16. Per Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com, Atlanta has already confirmed its starting pitchers through Thursday, so there wouldn't be an opening for Strider in the rotation until at least Friday.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Another bullpen session Saturday
Rotowire
Strider (hamstring) will throw another bullpen session Saturday before Atlanta decides whether he will need a rehab start before rejoining the big-league rotation, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Strider was given a PRP injection after suffering a right hamstring strain April 21 and threw his first bullpen since the injury Wednesday, which went well. The right-hander indicated that he feels ready to rejoin Atlanta's rotation, but the ultimate decision lies with the club. Strider could return next week if Atlanta decides a rehab start isn't necessary, but if that happens he would likely have a limited workload.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Not cleared for mound work yet
Rotowire
Strider (hamstring) has yet to be cleared to throw off a mound, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Strider has been playing catch, but it's been two weeks since he's thrown off the bump and it's uncertain when he'll be cleared for that. Given that layoff, it figures to be at least another couple weeks before he's ready to rejoin the Atlanta rotation even in a best-case scenario. Strider has been sidelined since mid-April with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Stuck with loss in season debut
Rotowire
Strider (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over five-plus innings as Atlanta was downed 3-1 by the Blue Jays. He struck out five.
Making his first big-league start since April 5 of last season after completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow, Strider looked strong early and topped out at 97.9 mph with his fastball on a strikeout of Vladimir Guerrero in the first inning. The Toronto slugger got his revenge though, taking Strider deep on a slider in the top of the sixth to help chase the right-hander from the game. Strider handled a full workload, tossing 58 of 97 pitches for strikes, and his final strikeout of the day was the 500th of his career. He lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Cardinals.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: On track to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Atlanta is planning to activate Strider (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Wednesday in Toronto, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Shortly after Strider completed his third and final rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said that the right-hander was on track to return from the IL during the upcoming week. While Atlanta has yet to officially confirm that Strider will debut Wednesday, the 26-year-old felt good during his bullpen session Sunday and will take the hill for the series finale in Toronto, barring any unforeseen setbacks with his arm. Strider is just over a year removed from undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow, but he exhibited no signs of rust during his two Grapefruit League starts and three rehab outings. He got stretched out to 5.1 innings and 90 pitches in his final start with Gwinnett, striking out 13 of the 21 batters he faced while inducing 21 swings-and-misses. Atlanta likely won't push Strider past the 100-pitch mark Wednesday, but given how strong he's looked during his time on the farm, fantasy managers who have been stashing him will likely want to activate him right away this week.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Dominant in Friday's rehab start
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) fired 5.1 scoreless, no-hit innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. He walked two and struck out eight.
The right-hander built up to 74 pitches, and per Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com, Strider topped out at 97.7 mph with his fastball. Atlanta isn't going to rush through the end of his rehab from an internal brace procedure performed last April, but Strider is closing in on his return to the big-league rotation. If he stays on schedule and makes two more rehab outings, it would put him on track for his 2025 debut April 19, at home against the Twins.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Making second rehab start
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) is making a rehab start Friday for Triple-A Gwinnett, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.
The right-hander threw 60 pitches over three innings during his first rehab start with Gwinnett last weekend, and he'll continue building up his workload Friday. Strider is almost exactly one year removed from undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow, and he'll likely require another rehab start or two after Friday before rejoining the Atlanta rotation.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Moves to injured list
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Strider (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Monday.
The move is simply a procedural one for the right-hander as he finishes up his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent last April. Strider was able to get in two Grapefruit League starts before the end of spring training and had a 10:1 K:BB with two earned runs allowed over four innings, potentially setting him up to make his 2025 debut as early as mid-April.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Second spring start set
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) will start Sunday's spring game against the Orioles and is scheduled to throw about 45-50 pitches, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
It'll be the second Grapefruit League appearance for Strider, who is nearing the end of his rehab from an internal brace procedure. The right-hander threw 27 pitches across 2.2 innings during his spring debut Monday, and he'll require at least a couple more outings after Sunday to ramp up his workload. Strider could be ready to join Atlanta's rotation in mid-April.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Dazzles in spring debut
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) struck out six batters over 2.2 perfect innings during his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox.
Cleared to pitch for the first time since April 5, 2024 after completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Strider looked as dominant as ever Monday. He found the strike zone on 23 of his 27 pitches and struck out six of the eight batters he faced, with the other two outs coming on a weak popout into foul territory and a first-pitch groundout. His velocity also appeared right in line with pre-surgery levels, with Strider topping out at 98 miles per hour on a first-inning strikeout of outfield prospect Roman Anthony. Since Strider will still need to get stretched out over the course of multiple starts, he remains on track to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but his dominant performance Monday makes a mid-to-late April debut increasingly realistic and is likely to send his ADP soaring.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Nearing game action
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) will throw at least one more live batting practice session before getting into a spring game, either in Grapefruit League action or in a minor-league contest, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The ace right-hander looked very good in his first live BP session Friday, tossing two simulated innings as he continues his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow. "I think it's gone super well," Strider said about his rehab after the BP session. "In hindsight, there's always going to be things we could have done differently, places where we should have slowed down and places where we should have sped up. But I think it's been a really seamless process so far." If Strider is able to begin building up by the final week of camp, it's possible he could come off the IL and rejoin the Atlanta rotation by the end of April, although the team's schedule presents an added wrinkle on that front. Atlanta will be playing in Coors Field on April 28-30, hardly an ideal environment for a pitcher to make his return from a serious arm injury.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Mixes in curve during side session
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) threw to batters Friday, using both his fastball and curveball as he continues his recovery from last April's elbow surgery, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
It was the first time this spring Strider had thrown more than just a bullpen session, although the hitters stepping into the box against him were instructed not to swing. The next step for the right-hander will be live batting practice, but Atlanta hasn't indicated yet when that might happen. "We've done such a good job of building a base, making sure mechanics are in a good spot. My stuff and command have come along better than I could have expected," Strider said after Friday's session. After he added a curve to his repertoire in 2023, there had been some speculation he might abandon the pitch in case it had contributed to his latest elbow woes, but Strider has no intention of doing that. "I know some people have speculated, but those people, kindly, don't have all the information," Strider said. "So I appreciate their interest, but..." He remains on track to miss the first month or so of the regular season, but the organization has held off providing any sort of firm timeline for his 2025 debut.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Late-April return possible
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) could make at least one Grapefruit League appearance this spring and be ready for his season debut by late April, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Recovering from last April's internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Strider will begin the season on the 15-day injured list. However, he has been throwing bullpen sessions and might be ready to rejoin Atlanta's rotation around a month into the season. Any timetable for the righty is approximate for now, but more clarity should be available as spring training rolls along.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Making progress
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) has completed four bullpen sessions and is on track to have a mostly normal spring training, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
Strider's progress is notable and a strong sign of his potential to contribute significant innings in 2025. However, general manager Alex Anthopoulos reiterated that the current plan is that Strider will not open the season on the active roster. More details about his timeline should emerge as spring training begins and progresses.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Not expected by Opening Day
Rotowire
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday it's unlikely Strider (elbow) will be ready for Opening Day, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The revelation isn't altogether surprising, as Anthopoulos indicated last month that while Opening Day was possible for Strider, the pitcher's season debut might not come until early June. Any timeline at this point is approximate, with more clarity likely to come by spring training. Strider is working his way back from an internal brace procedure he underwent in mid-April.
