Braves' Spencer Strider offers blunt response to devastating injury news

The Atlanta Braves' 0-7 start is haunting this team so far in the National League East race. The franchise, which is vying for its eighth consecutive playoff bid, currently sits at 10-14 overall, last in the division, and 7.5 games behind the first-place New York Mets. 

There’s plenty of time, but that’s not an ideal place to be for a team this talented. One area that has contributed to this uneven start is the pitching, which is 18th in runs allowed per game. Unfortunately, a player who could play a significant role in improving that metric, starting pitcher Spencer Strider, has just received a discouraging injury update.

Strider was one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball the last season he was healthy. In 2023, the Columbus, Ohio native went 20-5, leading the league in wins and strikeouts. Strider was subsequently named an All-Star and selected to the All-MLB First Team. 

Since then, however, the talented right-hander has struggled with injury setback after injury setback. In 2024, Strider was named the Opening Day starter over Braves ace Max Fried, but appeared in just two games before having to undergo season-ending surgery to repair his UCL.

So far this season, the 26-year-old has appeared in one game, and now was just placed on the 15-day IL with a right hamstring strain. He was subsequently diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain and will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks. 

In a recent interview with Braves beat writer for the Athletic, David O’Brien, Strider expressed his frustration with not being able to stay on the field for the past year. 

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

"It sucks. I feel like I have done absolutely nothing to help this team in the last year. I finally get to a point where I can earn my paycheck and go on the field and help us win, now I'm back on a table while they wave machines over me."

Despite the discouragement, Strider remained resolute that he would do whatever it takes to recover from this strain as soon as possible. The young starter has his whole future ahead of him, which should include him making plenty of more All-Star teams and contending for several Cy Young awards. When Strider eventually returns, that will just make the Braves all the more dangerous. 

More MLB: Braves trade pitch brings $15M starter to Atlanta after Spencer Strider injury