Spencer Strider, the Atlanta Braves' high-octane right-hander, is sidelined again. The club placed him on the 15-day injured list Saturday after imaging revealed inflammation in his right elbow, a gut punch for a rotation that was already walking a tightrope in the middle of another playoff chase.
Strider exited Friday night’s start at Citi Field after reporting soreness in both his shoulder and elbow. He walked off the mound after the fourth inning when his trademark velocity suddenly cratered, turning a routine June outing into a full-blown concern for Atlanta.
Imaging Confirms Elbow Inflammation
The Braves officially listed Strider with right elbow inflammation on the 15-day injured list, according to MLB.com. The club’s injury log notes that he departed his June 12 start with right shoulder and elbow soreness and underwent imaging to determine the extent of the problem.
What Went Wrong At Citi Field
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution detailed just how alarming Strider’s final inning looked. Early in the outing, his fastball sat in the upper 90s, the power stuff Braves fans are used to. By the fourth inning, though, that heater had dipped into the upper 80s, prompting an immediate visit from trainers and coaches.
Reporter Chad Bishop noted that Strider was pulled after 68 pitches, having been tagged for seven earned runs and three home runs. Manager Walt Weiss did not sugarcoat the moment, saying, “It’s never good when a guy walks off the field.” The Braves later said imaging had revealed inflammation in Strider’s right elbow.
Rotation Shakeup And Roster Moves
With Strider shelved, the Braves are already shuffling the deck. Manager Walt Weiss confirmed that J.R. Ritchie, who came in Friday and fired five scoreless innings of long relief, will slide into Strider’s spot in the rotation, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Atlanta also dipped into Triple-A for bullpen help, recalling right-hander Anthony Molina from Gwinnett as the corresponding roster move, Sports Illustrated reports.
Where Strider Stands In His Comeback
Strider’s latest setback comes on the heels of an already bumpy return from major elbow work. After his breakout seasons, he underwent an internal-brace procedure in 2024 and has been trying to claw his way back to form. This year, he is 4-2 with a 5.31 ERA and is 11-16 with a 4.66 ERA since coming back from elbow surgery, per Atlanta News First.
Those numbers are a far cry from the dominance he flashed before the procedure. Across his first 67 big-league appearances, Strider went 32-10 with a 3.47 ERA and even posted a 20-win season in 2023.
Next Steps For The Braves And Strider
For now, the Braves are in wait-and-see mode. The team says it will hold off on setting any kind of return timetable until it has fully evaluated the imaging results. MLB.com currently lists Strider’s status as “TBD” while the club sorts through the elbow issue.
In the meantime, Atlanta will lean on Ritchie and its Triple-A depth to patch together the rotation. How long that patch has to hold could end up defining the Braves’ season.
