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Braves news: Spencer Strider still among starters who are unlikely to return this season
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- Braves news: Spencer Strider still among starters who are unlikely to return this season
Braves news: Spencer Strider still among starters who are unlikely to return this season appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The past three seasons have been rough on the injury front for Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider . Strider made just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which then kept him out for the majority of 2024 and rendered him relatively ineffective in 2025. There was hope that Strider was going to start pitching at a level more reminiscent of his pre-Tommy John self as he distanced himself even further from that injury, but he's remained stricken by injury woes in 2026.
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It was back in June when Strider was placed on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation. He only made eight starts this year before succumbing to another serious injury, and with September fast approaching, the 27-year-old remains on the sidelines.
However, the deeper the Braves go into the regular season, the more unlikely it gets for Strider to return to the mound this year. As per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, there are no updates regarding the throwing program of Strider; while the Braves haven't ruled out a potential return for their former ace, it would take a miraculous recovery and an equally as divine of a rehab process for him to make it back to the big-league team this year.
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Along with Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are also among those the Braves did not have updates for. Schwellenbach is currently on the 60-day injured list along with Strider, as he is also dealing with an elbow injury. Meanwhile, Waldrep exited a start in Triple-A back in July due to right arm discomfort, and he hasn't returned to action since.
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Strider, in eight starts this year, recorded an ERA of 5.30 across 39.0 innings of work. His lack of command remains concerning, and he is yet to even come close to his pre-injury level of play. The Braves will be cautious in bringing him back, as they must be hopeful still of getting the version of Strider who was putting up an argument for being the best pitcher in MLB.
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