ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves announced Monday that starting pitcher Spencer Strider will not be allowed to throw for the next four weeks after doctors discovered inflammation in his right elbow.
Strider, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, met with Dr. Keith Meister before the decision was made to shut him down for four weeks. At the end of that period, Strider will undergo another MRI, and if the results show the inflammation has resolved, he will begin a gradual throwing program, according to the team.
The right-hander exited Friday’s 7-5 defeat against the New York Mets in the fourth inning, citing soreness in both his right shoulder and elbow. Braves manager Walt Weiss noted that the team had also grown concerned about a significant drop in Strider’s pitching velocity.
This is not the first time Strider has dealt with arm injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2019, and in April 2024 he had his UCL repaired using an internal brace.
With Strider out, rookie right-hander JR Ritchie — who came in as a reliever behind Strider on Friday — will take over a spot in the starting rotation. Ritchie is slated to take the mound Wednesday night against San Francisco.
In his final outing before being shut down, Strider gave up six hits, including three home runs, and surrendered a season-high seven earned runs in just three innings of work.
Friday’s start was Strider’s eighth of the season for the first-place Braves. He had missed the team’s first 34 games while recovering from a strained left oblique. On the year, he holds a 4-2 record with a 5.31 ERA.
Strider had a standout 2023 season, leading all of Major League Baseball with 20 victories while setting an Atlanta franchise record with 281 strikeouts.
