ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have faced a setback with their star pitcher, Spencer Strider, suffering a strain to his right hamstring while playing catch. As a result, the team placed him on the 15-day injured list. This decision was made retroactively effective from Friday, which came two days following Strider’s return from elbow surgery. His first MLB appearance since the surgery saw him give up two runs over five innings in a 3-1 defeat against Toronto. Strider, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher, had been eagerly anticipated to make his home season debut against St. Louis on Tuesday.
Without Strider, the Braves will resort to using a bullpen game when facing the Cardinals. Braves’ manager, Brian Snitker, stated that the decision regarding the opener would be made on the day of the game. Third baseman Austin Riley expressed his hopes for a quick recovery, acknowledging how challenging the situation is for Strider, especially considering his journey back from the arm injury. “I hate it for the guy with everything that he’s been through,” Riley noted after the Braves secured a 7-6 win over St. Louis. He further commented on Strider’s perseverance through a difficult period and praised his recent performance as commendable.
Before his injury, Strider played only two games this season following UCL internal brace surgery on April 12. Last year, he ended the season as a strong contender for the NL Cy Young Award, finishing fourth in the vote and being selected as an All-Star. With an impressive record of 20 wins against 5 losses, a 3.86 ERA, and leading the league with 281 strikeouts, Strider has clearly been a pivotal player for the Braves.
In light of Strider’s absence, Atlanta has called up right-handed pitcher Michael Petersen from Triple-A Gwinnett. Petersen previously demonstrated his capability by pitching two scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on April 13. The Braves’ rotation is further impacted by the absence of right-hander Reynaldo López, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery conducted on April 8 after making just one start. López is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of three months.