The 2025 MLB season has reached the middle of May, and Atlanta Braves fans are still waiting for Spencer Strider's return to the mound. The 26-year-old right-handed ace has been sidelined since the middle of April with a hamstring injury, and his absence has only been felt more with each passing week of the Braves' up-and-down campaign.
Fortunately, Strider's rehab has been setback-free, and all signs point to his absence ending soon. Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters on Thursday afternoon that the former All-Star hurler will return to action during next week's series with the Washington Nationals, leaving time to reveal who Atlanta would kick to the curb to make room for the returning ace.
Unfortunately, Strider's upcoming return just caused the Braves to commit a huge roster mistake.
Braves Option RHP Bryce Elder Before Spencer Strider Returns
After Snitker spoke about Strider's incoming return, the Braves announced that fellow RHP Bryce Elder has been optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Based on how the former 2020 fifth-rounder has recently played, Elder's emotion is the last thing Atlanta fans wanted to see.
Elder became an integral part of the Braves' rotation during the 2023 campaign. The ex-Texas Longhorn finished the year with a career-high 12 wins, pitching to a 3.81 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings en route to his first (and only) MLB All-Star appearance.
Much to his dismay, Elder failed to replicate that success last season, forcing him to split the 2024 campaign between the Majors and minors. It looked like those struggles followed him into 2025 after posting a 7.20 ERA with a 0-1 record in his first three starts, however, that's when things changed for the better.
Elder looked like his old self in his final five starts before being sent down. Since Apr. 23, the Decatur, TX native went 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 23 batters with only eight walks and 10 earned runs on 24 hits allowed across 29 innings. He pitched at least six innings in four of those appearances, including when he allowed one run on five hits in a half-dozen frames during Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Nationals.
Instead of continuing to build off that success at the big-league level, Elder will be forced to pick up from where he left off in the minors. He allowed five earned runs in only 2 2/3 innings in his lone 2025 start with the Gwinnett Stripers at the start of the season.
Assuming his minor-league performance is similar to his recent MLB success, Elder should be back with the Braves sooner rather than later. Still, it's unfortunate to see the 25-year-old RHP sent packing just when it looked like he rediscovered his groove.
In the meantime, the Braves will head into this weekend's series against the Boston Red Sox with the sixth-best 2025 World Series odds (+1600) on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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