- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,153,149
- Reaction score
- 59
For most of the season, the Atlanta Braves have operated like a team that had already weathered its toughest storm.
The injuries came early. The rotation depth was tested. Young pitchers were asked to fill important innings. Yet Atlanta still entered the weekend with the best record in baseball at 45-24. That's why Spencer Strider's latest trip to the injured list feels different.
The Braves announced Saturday that Strider was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, less than 24 hours after he exited a loss to the Mets with soreness in both his elbow and shoulder.
"It doesn't look great as we stand here, right now," Weiss told reporters, via MLB.com's Matthew Ritchie.
The concern extends beyond one rough outing. Strider's line against New York was ugly enough — seven earned runs in three-plus innings — but the velocity readings told a more troubling story. Strider's primary pitches lost velocity throughout the outing, with his final fastball registering just 87.8 mph. Matthew Ritchie noted that Weiss said Strider wasn't even aware of the decline until the coaching staff pointed it out during a mound visit.
That sequence helps explain why Atlanta acted so quickly.
The Braves have spent the last two seasons waiting for Strider to fully reclaim the version of himself that emerged as one of baseball's premier strikeout pitchers. Since undergoing InternalBrace surgery in 2024, the road back has included a hamstring injury, an oblique strain and now another arm-related setback.
Even before Friday, the results had been uneven. As noted by Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors, Strider carried a 5.31 ERA through eight starts this season while still searching for the dominant fastball that once overwhelmed opposing lineups.
The timing is particularly unfortunate because Atlanta had finally reached a point where its rotation depth seemed to be stabilizing. Instead, that depth may be tested again immediately.
The silver lining arrived moments after Strider exited. Top prospect JR Ritchie entered in relief and delivered five scoreless innings while striking out five. Weiss said that it was "maybe as good as I've seen him this year with us," according to Matthew Ritchie.
Atlanta suddenly has options. Ritchie could take Strider's rotation spot, a move Weiss confirmed Saturday remains likely, while veterans such as Reynaldo Lopez remain alternatives.
Those solutions may help the Braves continue winning games. Replacing Strider is another matter entirely.
For a team with championship aspirations, the larger concern is no longer how the rotation survives June. It is whether one of the franchise's most important arms will be available when those aspirations are tested later in the season.
Continue reading...
The injuries came early. The rotation depth was tested. Young pitchers were asked to fill important innings. Yet Atlanta still entered the weekend with the best record in baseball at 45-24. That's why Spencer Strider's latest trip to the injured list feels different.
The Braves announced Saturday that Strider was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, less than 24 hours after he exited a loss to the Mets with soreness in both his elbow and shoulder.
"It doesn't look great as we stand here, right now," Weiss told reporters, via MLB.com's Matthew Ritchie.
The concern extends beyond one rough outing. Strider's line against New York was ugly enough — seven earned runs in three-plus innings — but the velocity readings told a more troubling story. Strider's primary pitches lost velocity throughout the outing, with his final fastball registering just 87.8 mph. Matthew Ritchie noted that Weiss said Strider wasn't even aware of the decline until the coaching staff pointed it out during a mound visit.
That sequence helps explain why Atlanta acted so quickly.
The Braves have spent the last two seasons waiting for Strider to fully reclaim the version of himself that emerged as one of baseball's premier strikeout pitchers. Since undergoing InternalBrace surgery in 2024, the road back has included a hamstring injury, an oblique strain and now another arm-related setback.
Even before Friday, the results had been uneven. As noted by Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors, Strider carried a 5.31 ERA through eight starts this season while still searching for the dominant fastball that once overwhelmed opposing lineups.
The timing is particularly unfortunate because Atlanta had finally reached a point where its rotation depth seemed to be stabilizing. Instead, that depth may be tested again immediately.
The silver lining arrived moments after Strider exited. Top prospect JR Ritchie entered in relief and delivered five scoreless innings while striking out five. Weiss said that it was "maybe as good as I've seen him this year with us," according to Matthew Ritchie.
Atlanta suddenly has options. Ritchie could take Strider's rotation spot, a move Weiss confirmed Saturday remains likely, while veterans such as Reynaldo Lopez remain alternatives.
Those solutions may help the Braves continue winning games. Replacing Strider is another matter entirely.
For a team with championship aspirations, the larger concern is no longer how the rotation survives June. It is whether one of the franchise's most important arms will be available when those aspirations are tested later in the season.
Continue reading...
