The Atlanta Braves are now just a game short of falling 20 games below the .500 mark in a season that simply couldn't sink any lower. The few key players who have managed to stay healthy continue to underachieve and fail to reach career norms. This includes Spencer Strider, who started Wednesday night's loss in a perfect example of a season of frustration.
Since returning from injury, the starter has shown flashes of the dominating force he once was, but isn't anything close to the consistent presence in the two seasons prior. Strider is 5-9 on the season with a 4.04 ERA.
Making matters worse is the fact that Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale, Grant Holmes, Reynaldo Lopez, and AJ Smith-Shawver all remain on the injured list. Strider is quite literally the last man standing in the Atlanta rotation, and perhaps this is helping play into the struggles.
There is a high level of expectation anytime Strider is on the mound, understanding that the other four spots are a guessing game each and every time. Still, Strider's strikeouts and velocity are yet to consistently reach the same elite levels of the pitcher's early seasons.
Braves Ace Spencer Strider Continues to Struggle in Underwhelming 2025 Season
Atlanta can only hope that a full offseason of work will get the pitcher back to the best version of himself. It doesn't help matters that Max Fried has looked like a star for the Yankees when in the rotation, while the Braves cannot put together a capable rotation to save their life. It continues to reflect poorly on the front office and ownership that opted to cheap out on a fan base expecting another year of contention.
For Strider, there are a few reasons for concern, with the most notable being the lack of consistent swing-and-miss stuff that defined the starter's early tenure. At this point, it is fair to wonder if the Braves might be better served to sit the pitcher down after another outing or two and protect his health going into the 2026 season. Atlanta isn't going to be relevant in September, leaving no reason to risk key players.
Strider's struggles make this decision all the easier, with the team able to replace the innings easily. The Braves need an offseason to attempt to bring in needed depth and allow their rotation to heal. Strider should be given the same courtesy, shutting the pitcher down early and allowing him to focus on finding out what exactly has gone wrong this season.