Braves' Spencer Strider: Cleared to start throwing again
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Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Monday that Strider (elbow) will begin a throwing progression this week, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Mark Bowman of MLB.com previously reported Aug. 1 that Strider's locker at Truist Park was recently cleared out, which appeared to signal that Atlanta wasn't counting on the right-hander pitching again in 2026. However, with Strider having now been given the green light to start playing light catch, he now looks to have a chance at making it back on the mound before the end of the season. Strider, who has been on the shelf since June 13 due to right elbow inflammation, can't afford a setback during his throwing progression, as any hiccups would likely close the door on a return from the 60-day injured list. Given the time that he's missed, the 27-year-old will be in store for an extended buildup, and it's not a given that he'll be stretched out enough to handle a traditional starting role if/when he returns. Strider could still provide value to Atlanta as an opener or multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen down the stretch.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Likely done for 2026
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Strider (elbow) appears unlikely to pitch again in 2026, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
After landing on the shelf June 13 due to right elbow inflammation, Strider met with Dr. Keith Meister and was prescribed a month of rest. He was expected to be re-evaluated over the All-Star break, but Atlanta hasn't provided a formal update on Strider's progress, and his locker got cleaned out during Atlanta's most recent homestand -- a strong sign that the club isn't expecting the right-hander back over the final two months of the regular season or in the playoffs. Strider labored through eight starts prior to going on the injured list, walking 12.8 percent of the batters he faced while pitching to a 5.31 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 39 innings.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Set for follow-up appointment
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Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Strider (elbow) will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Keith Meister next week and may also be scheduled for an MRI, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The right-hander was originally shut down June 16 for a period of about four weeks after an initial MRI revealed no structural damage. A return to the big-league roster in late August would seem to be the best-case scenario for Strider, but Weiss didn't sound optimistic while discussing when the 2023 All-Star might be back with Atlanta. Through just 39 innings this season, Strider has a 5.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Atlanta transferred Strider (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Strider landed on the 15-day IL on June 13 with right elbow inflammation, and it was later deemed that he would be shut down for at least four weeks. Although the 27-year-old avoided any structural damage to his elbow, Atlanta made the decision to transfer him to the 60-day IL in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Carlos Carrasco. Strider has only appeared in eight games this season for Atlanta after having the start of his campaign delayed due to an oblique injury that sidelined him until May 3.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Facing four-week shutdown period
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Atlanta announced that Strider (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for four weeks following a consultation Monday with Dr. Keith Meister.
After he was forced out of his start Friday against the Mets, Strider was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation and landed on the injured list a day later. While an MRI cleared him of any structural damage, he'll still need a prolonged period of rest for the inflammation to calm down. Strider will be scheduled to undergo a follow-up MRI in mid-July, and if his scan is clear at that time, he'll be able to begin a throwing progression around the All-Star break. Even if his recovery from the elbow injury goes smoothly, Strider looks unlikely to join the Atlanta rotation until late August in a best-case scenario, which could make it tough to justify holding him in most redraft leagues.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Still being evaluated
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Manager Walt Weiss said Sunday that there's "nothing definitive" on Strider's inflamed right elbow, adding that the 27-year-old is scheduled to be evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister at some point this week, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Strider has familiarity with Dr. Meister, who performed his UCL brace procedure in 2024, per Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal. With that in mind, Strider's upcoming appointment is noteworthy, even though Atlanta has yet to provide any specifics beyond the initial diagnosis. The right-hander landed on the injured list Saturday after exiting his start Friday against the Mets, and his outlook will remain up in the air as he continues to be evaluated.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Exits with trainer
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Strider was removed from Friday's game against the Mets due to right arm soreness.
Strider gave up six runs across the first two innings of the game and was displaying diminished velocity at the start of the fourth, prompting Atlanta's training staff to take him out of the game. It remains unknown what exactly the 27-year-old righty is dealing with, but the team should provide some clarity in the near future.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Suffers first loss Sunday
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Strider (3-1) took the loss against the Reds on Sunday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over five innings.
Strider threw only one scoreless frame despite generating 13 whiffs on 90 pitches and keeping the ball in the yard. It marked the sixth straight outing to open his campaign in which the 27-year-old limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer, though he has completed six innings just twice during that stretch. He'll carry a 3.77 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 40:17 K:BB across 31 innings into a home matchup against the Pirates next weekend.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Making season debut Sunday
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Strider (oblique) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Strider's left oblique checked out fine following his third and final minor-league rehab start last Sunday with Triple-A Gwinnett, setting the stage for the right-hander to make his 2026 debut with the big club. The 27-year-old gets a less-than-ideal landing spot for his first start with Atlanta in hitter-friendly Colorado, but he should be in line for relatively standard workload. He upped his pitch count to 82 and covered five innings in his final rehab outing.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Rejoining rotation this weekend
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Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Strider (oblique) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut this weekend in Colorado, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
A report earlier Tuesday said that Strider would make one more rehab start, but that turned out to be inaccurate. Weiss did not reveal the specific day Strider would make his season debut, but if he pitches on four days' rest as he has been on his rehab assignment, he'd start Friday. Strider threw 82 pitches over five innings Sunday with Triple-A Gwinnett, so he should be ready for a relatively normal workload against the Rockies. He's missed the first month of the season with a left oblique strain.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Piles up seven Ks in rehab start
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Strider (oblique) struck out seven and allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks across five innings Sunday in a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett.
In what was likely the third and final start of his rehab assignment, Strider delivered another strong outing to convince Atlanta that he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list. The 27-year-old built up to 82 pitches (50 strikes) Sunday, inducing 16 whiffs while maxing out at 96.9 miles per hour with his fastball. Assuming his oblique checks out fine following his next bullpen session, Strider will tentatively line up to make his season debut with Atlanta during its upcoming weekend series in Colorado.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Notches eight Ks in rehab start
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Strider (oblique) struck out eight and permitted one hit and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings in his rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett.
After tossing 3.1 scoreless frames for High-A Rome during his first rehab start last Thursday, Strider moved up a couple levels for his second minor-league outing but was unfazed by the jump in competition. The right-hander pumped in 46 of his 65 pitches for strikes, topping out at 98.1 miles per hour with his fastball and inducing 15 swinging strikes, 10 of which came via his slider. Strider will look to build up to the 80-pitch mark his next time out in what will likely be his final rehab outing in the minors before Atlanta brings him back from the 15-day injured list. He tentatively lines up to make his 2026 MLB debut during Atlanta's three-game series in Colorado next weekend.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Moving rehab to Triple-A
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Strider (oblique) is scheduled to make the second start of his rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Gwinnett, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
He'll be making the jump to Gwinnett from High-A Rome along with rehabbing catcher Sean Murphy (hip), who was behind the plate last Thursday in Strider's first minor-league outing. Strider spotted 27 of his 50 pitches for strikes in his start with Rome, recording three punchouts while yielding one hit and two walks over 3.1 scoreless frames. The right-hander will get further stretched out further Tuesday in what's expected to be the second of three total starts in the minors before he returns from the 15-day injured list and slots back into the Atlanta rotation.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Sharp in rehab start Thursday
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Strider (oblique) allowed one hit and two walks over 3.1 scoreless innings in a rehab start for High-A Rome on Thursday. He struck out three.
The right-hander built up to 50 pitches as he made his first rehab start, retiring the first eight batters he faced. Strider is expected to need at least two more minor-league outings before he'll be ready to join the big-league rotation. He's been sidelined since mid-March due to an oblique strain but appears on track to make his 2026 debut with Atlanta in early May.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Will throw live BP on Saturday
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Strider (oblique) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
It's presumed to be the last step before Strider heads out on a rehab assignment. Strider suffered the strained left oblique at the end of spring training and has missed his first three turns through the rotation, but it appears a 2026 debut will happen in the near future. Martin Perez has been filling in at the back end of Atlanta's rotation while Strider has been out.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Injury not viewed as serious
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Strider (oblique) may not miss much more than the minimum amount of time, Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com reports.
During an appearance on MLB Network Radio on Sunday, Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos described Strider's oblique strain as "mild", and not as bad as the issue that cost Sean Murphy the first two months of 2024. "I think it will be sooner rather than later that you see [Strider] back," Anthopoulos said. The right-hander is first eligible to come off the IL on April 6, but it's not yet clear if he'll be ready by then. Strider himself missed about a month of action late in 2022 with an oblique issue.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Headed to IL with oblique strain
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Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Monday that Strider will begin the season on the injured list with an oblique strain, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Strider had been slated for his final Grapefruit League tune-up outing Monday versus the Pirates, but that assignment will now go to Didier Fuentes. Jose Suarez is expected to slide into Strider's rotation slot once the regular season gets underway, with Fuentes still set to open in the bullpen. Atlanta is hoping Strider will be back in action in a couple weeks, but that's no safe bet given the fickle nature of oblique injuries. Strider has dealt with depressed velocity this spring, though the results have been there, as he allowed three runs with an 11:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Fans five against Rays
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Strider allowed two hits and a walk over four scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out five.
The right-hander built up to 61 pitches (43 strikes) and mostly sat 94-95 mph with his fastball, topping out at 96.5 mph. Strider might not get back his pre-injury heat -- he was averaging 97.2 mph with his four-seamer as recently as 2023 -- but he's expanded his arsenal with a curveball in addition to his slider and changeup, and he looked comfortable with all four offerings Wednesday. Strider is looking to rebound from an uncharacteristically shaky 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 23 starts in 2025.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Maintains velocity in third start
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Strider struck out five and gave up two hits and one walk over four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against the Rays.
Making his third start of the spring, Strider built up to 61 pitches (43 strikes) and delivered his best performance to date. He induced nine swinging strikes -- including five with his slider -- and retired eight of 12 batters via either strikeout or groundout, with another out coming on a pickoff. Perhaps more importantly, the velocity gains Strider noticed in his previous start last Thursday carried over into Wednesday's outing. He peaked at 96.5 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball and averaged 94.8 mph overall, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Logs quality start in loss
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Strider (7-14) took the loss against the Pirates on Saturday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings.
Strider generated 15 whiffs on 85 pitches and entered the sixth inning locked in a pitcher's duel before allowing two runs in the frame. While 2025 was a disappointing campaign overall, the 26-year-old closed on a steadier note, allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his final six starts. He'll finish the season with a 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 131:51 K:BB across 125.1 innings.
