Atlanta Braves ace and National League Cy Young favorite Spencer Strider left Friday’s start against the Arizona Diamondbacks after four innings after complaining of elbow discomfort in his throwing hand.
That is not a sentence baseball fans want to see written. We already know what it could potentially lead to for the star pitcher.
Following Friday night’s game, Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that the 25-year-old Strider would undergo an MRI on Saturday.
“He came in and he was complaining about his elbow. He is going to get a MRI in the morning and we will find out what is going on,” Snitker said.
About that? The Braves announced Saturday afternoon that Strider would undergo further testing after the MRI revealed damage to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
“Spencer Strider today underwent an MRI that revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will be further evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, TX, at a date yet to be determined.”
Atlanta Braves press release
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What the Spencer Strider injury news means for the Atlanta Braves
It’s obviously too early to tell. Once Strider is evaluated by Dr. Meister, we’ll know more. But the fact that there is no date for that evaluation doesn’t bode well for a quick return to action.
Similar situations in the past have resulted in players being forced to undergo Tommy John Surgery, which typically leads to an absence of at least a calendar year. But we’re not going to speculate on that front.
What we do know is that Strider is extremely important when it comes to the Braves’ World Series aspirations. He was absolutely brilliant for the team a season ago.
- Spencer Strider stats (2023): 20-5, 3.86 ERA, 1.09 whip, 281 strikeouts
Strider was also dominating during the Spring Training, posting a 3-1 record with a 0.79 ERA. It was one of the best Spring Training performances for a pitcher in modern MLB history.
That’s what makes this so troubling. After all, Strider yielded seven earned runs in two starts to open the regular season. Obviously, something is going on with his elbow.
For now, Atlanta will have to rely on Reynaldo Lopez, Charlie Morton, Chris Sale and Max Fried to hold down the fort.
If this ends up being a long-term injury, the MLB trade market obviously comes into play. The Braves also have top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver sitting in the minors. He’s seemingly ready for the Majors.