Braves get terrible injury news on Spencer Strider right before Opening Day

The Atlanta Braves have dealt with a lot of pitcher injuries already for the 2026 season, and Opening Day hasn't even happened yet.

While Chris Sale looks poised for a strong season once again, and the bullpen looks to be in great shape, the starting rotation is not in a good spot. And now, it's getting even worse.

According to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the Braves got some terrible news on Spencer Strider, as the flame-throwing righty is beginning the season on the injured list, adding another key starter to the IL for Atlanta before the season even begins.

Braves put Spencer Strider on IL to begin season

"Strider will start the season on the IL with an oblique strain," Bowman reported Monday morning.

Strider is headed to the injured list to open the 2026 regular season due to an oblique issue. He's made three appearances this spring and has a 3.24 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP across 8.1 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts.

He's looked good to begin the year, and while his velocity might not be in a perfect spot, there was optimism with Strider for the 2026 season. And now, he's headed to the injured list, and Atlanta's rotation is in a terrible spot.

More: Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL for the Braves

Strider joins Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz on the injured list to begin the season.

It's a full starting rotation's worth of pitchers on the IL for the Braves before the season has even begun. That's some brutal injury luck for Atlanta.

Outside of Sale, the Braves will need Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder to step up in Strider's absence.

Things were already in a precarious spot for the Braves, but things are now in a crisis mode. They have to add to their rotation; otherwise, this upcoming season might be a disaster.

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