Strider to Begin Season on Injured List
Spencer Strider has been sidelined. Braves manager Walt Weiss announced that Strider will start the 2026 season on the disabled list due to an oblique strain. This marks yet another setback in Strider’s still-developing career.
Weiss commented on the situation, mentioning, “I think we have tackled this issue to some degree. So, fingers crossed, it won’t become a major problem.”
He added, “It’s tough for him to notice, but you can see it when he throws. He has potential, but if he had pitched today, he would have fallen even further behind.”
Strider was scheduled to start against the Pirates on Monday but was scratched from the lineup. While there’s no confirmed return date, Weiss expressed hope that Strider might be back in a few weeks.
Strider isn’t the only one facing challenges on the Braves’ pitching staff. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are both on the 60-day injured list, and Joey Wentz suffered a season-ending ACL tear. The team has retained Chris Sale, the 2024 Cy Young Award winner, but the current rotation also includes Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder.
This injury marks the third significant issue Strider has faced over the last three years. In 2024, he tore his UCL, underwent surgery, and missed nearly the entire season. Last year, he was out for the first six weeks, and upon his return, he struggled to meet his previous performance levels. He finished 2025 with a 4.45 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 23 games.
Yet, there’s optimism that he can regain his form from 2023, which was his best year. Strider led the league with 20 wins, 281 strikeouts, and a FIP of 2.85, finishing with a 3.86 ERA. He was also fourth in Cy Young Award voting and made it to the All-Star team.
Currently, Strider has shown promise during spring training, boasting a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA across 8 1/3 innings pitched.
The Braves ended last season fourth in the National League East, with a disappointing 76 wins and 86 losses, failing to reach the playoffs. In response, they parted ways with manager Brian Snitker and brought in Weiss.
As they aim for a return to postseason play in 2026, the team is already dealing with a rocky start, thanks to Strider’s injury and other issues. Apart from the pitching troubles, shortstop Kim Ha-seong is out with a hand injury from a fall on ice in January, and outfielder Jurickson Profar is set to miss the entire season due to a suspension after testing positive for PEDs.
