The Atlanta Braves are getting ready to plug Spencer Strider into the bottom of the team's rotation as the right-hander has officially begun a rehab assignment. Early returns were positive with Strider striking out three and working into the fourth inning without giving up a run. This was a step in the right direction, but it is far from the needed evidence to fully buy into Strider becoming the player he was two years ago. Atlanta needs reassurance that Strider not only pitches at this level for the Braves but can also stay healthy.
Strider was supposed to be the team's ace, stepping into the gap left by Max Fried's departure in free agency two seasons ago. All the Braves have gotten thus far is a concerning dip in velocity, injury issues, and a concerning amount of hard contact from opposing lineups. With all of this in mind, it will take more than one solid rehab outing for fans to buy back into Strider's potential.
After missing the bulk of the 2024 season due to injury, Strider returned in 2025 and would take 14 deserved losses while offering an ERA of 4.45. Perhaps most concerning was the diminished velocity, leaving Atlanta fans wondering whether the right-hander would ever recapture the promise he once flashed.
Braves Should Remain Concerned About Strider's Future Despite Solid Rehab Start
The last time Strider was consistently productive was in the 2023 season, winning 20 games and consistently giving Atlanta a chance to win. This version of the starter would make the Braves' hot roster far scarier and push the team towards competing with the behemoth that is the Los Angeles Dodgers roster.
A scenario that remains plausible, but one Braves fans cannot buy into following just one minor league outing after two years of injuries and struggles on the mound. Strider needs to put together months of production and prove that the latest version of the starter is one capable of fitting into what has become a stacked rotation.
What will be interesting about watching Strider's return is understanding that this rotation still needs to make room for Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep once the starters are healthy. This is to say nothing of Didier Fuentes and JR Ritchie, who are both making a case for elevation to the big league club.
This serves as a reminder that Strider has very little margin for error, and there is far more pressure on the starter than in seasons past. Hopefully, this will bring out the best and turn back the clock to the productive player Strider once was.
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