Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider took the mound in a big league game for the first time since last April. The right-hander looked solid as he struck out five batters, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings of work. Strider surprisingly came out for the sixth inning, but was quickly pulled from the contest after running into some trouble. Fantasy managers didn't get great results from Strider, but he might need a few starts to shake off some rust. His next start will come against the St. Louis Cardinals next week. Strider is a must-start going forward considering he's one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
Spencer Strider Activated From Injured List, Making Season Debut On Wednesday
The Atlanta Braves officially activated right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, and he will make his 2025 season debut in Toronto against the Blue Jays. In a corresponding move, the team optioned right-hander Zach Thompson to Triple-A Gwinnett. While Strider will be a bit more risky in DFS lineups in his season debut, fantasy managers in single-year leagues will want to get him back into their starting lineups immediately after how dominant he was during his minor-league rehab assignment. The 26-year-old got up to 90 pitches in his final rehab start and will make his return to Atlanta's starting rotation just over a year after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow. In his 13 2/3 innings at Gwinnett, Strider struck out 27, walked five and allowed just two runs. He proved in 2023 that he's a fantasy ace when he's healthy.
Spencer Strider Tentatively Scheduled To Debut Wednesday Against Toronto
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) will throw a bullpen session in Tampa on Sunday and then travel with the team to Toronto for their series against the Blue Jays next week. The Athletic's David O'Brien says that it sounds like Spencer Schwellenbach will make his next start on Tuesday on regular rest, with Strider coming off the injured list to make his season debut on Wednesday. Nothing is official yet, but Strider is primed to return to Atlanta's starting rotation after giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking five and striking out 27 in 13 2/3 frames over his three minor-league rehab starts for Triple-A Gwinnett. The 26-year-old All-Star got up to 90 pitches in his final rehab outing and should be fully stretched out for next week. He's coming off an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last April, but Strider has the upside of a fantasy ace if he's right.
Spencer Strider Expected To Make Season Debut Next Week
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker isn't committing to right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) being activated from the 15-day injured list next week, but it's the current plan. After undergoing an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow early last year, Strider has worked his way all the way back and is on the cusp of rejoining Atlanta's starting rotation. The 26-year-old former All-Star in 2023 has looked dominant since he started pitching in games in spring training, and he capped it off by striking out 13 batters in 5 1/3 innings in his final minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. Before that, he allowed an earned run in 8 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out 14 in two starts for Gwinnett. Strider go up to 90 pitches on Thursday and should be sufficiently stretched out to debut next week against the Toronto Blue Jays. It goes without saying that he should be rostered in all fantasy formats.
Spencer Strider Strikes Out 13 In Thursday's Rehab Outing
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow) dominated in Thursday's minor-league rehab outing as he struck out 13 batters across 5 1/3 innings of work. He allowed just three hits, two walks, and one earned run. This was Strider's third rehab outing with Triple-A Gwinnett. Given that he was able to reach 90 pitches suggests he should be ready to make his regular-season debut in the majors. In his first two outings, Strider struck out 14 batters and allowed one run across 8 1/3 innings of work. Strider has been sidelined since undergoing an internal-brace procedure last April. He was able to participate in spring training but was placed on the 15-day injured list to continue to slowly build up his workload. Fantasy managers should monitor Atlanta's projected starters, as he could make his season debut as early as next week.
Spencer Strider Expected To Throw 90 Pitches In Thursday's Start
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow) is expected to get his pitch count up to around 90 in Thursday's rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett. The 26-year-old has looked dominant in two rehab starts to this point, racking up 14 strikeouts and yielding just two hits in eight and one-third innings pitched. Thursday's start is anticipated to be the final tune-up before the Braves activate him off the injured list for his 2025 MLB debut. Seemingly fully recovered from the internal brace procedure he underwent last year, fantasy managers should have confidence slotting the 2023 All-Star into their lineups. Assuming all goes well, his first start for the Braves could come against the Blue Jays in Toronto next week.
Spencer Strider To Make Another Rehab Start On Thursday
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) will make a third minor-league start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday at Triple-A Norfolk, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Even though Strider looked like his old dominant self during his latest rehab start, he will make one more minor-league appearance before the Braves reinstate him from the injured list following an internal-brace procedure around a year ago. In his two rehab outings for Gwinnett, the 26-year-old has allowed just one earned run on two hits while walking three and striking out 14 batters in 8 1/3 innings. He was especially dominating in his last outing on Friday in which he got up to 74 pitches. As long as Strider doesn't suffer a setback next Thursday, he should be ready to make his 2025 debut in the majors, and fantasy managers will want to throw him into their starting lineups right away.
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) looked great on Friday in his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett, holding Triple-A Charlotte hitless on 74 pitches over 5 1/3 innings while striking out eight. Strider averaged 96 mph with his four-seam fastball and topped out at 97.7 mph. He struck out 10 of the 16 batters he faced in spring training and had six punchouts in three innings in his first rehab start for Gwinnett. Although he's a little less than a year removed from an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow, Strider could be back in Atlanta's starting rotation very soon. From 2022-23, the 26-year-old had 483 strikeouts with a 3.36 ERA in 318 2/3 innings pitched. His impending return to the big leagues will give the Braves a much-needed boost with 2024 All-Star Reynaldo Lopez needing arthroscopic right-shoulder surgery on Tuesday.
Spencer Strider Making Another Rehab Start On Friday
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) is making another minor-league rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Gwinnett, according to 929 The Game's Grant McAuley. Catcher Sean Murphy (rib) is expected to do the catching for Strider as he continues his own rehab assignment. Strider threw 60 pitches over three innings in his first rehab start for the Stripers and may only need to make one more rehab start after Friday's outing as long as he doesn't have a setback with his surgically-repaired right elbow. The 26-year-old had an internal-brace procedure almost exactly a year ago and is getting closer and closer to making his 2025 debut with the Braves. While Strider might be eased in initially in terms of his pitch count by the Braves, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats and could be a difference maker for fantasy rotations sooner than later.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow) was able to put together a strong rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. The right-hander allowed one run while striking out six batters across three innings of work. Strider was reportedly able to throw over 40 of his 60 pitches for strikes. The expectation is that Strider will make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Braves rotation. However, fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if the Braves give Strider two or three more starts in order to build up his stamina after missing the vast majority of last year after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow. Strider should be back in the Braves rotation by the end of April.
Spencer Strider
• SP
•
Braves
