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How did Braves’ Spencer Strider pitch in third rehab start?
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- How did Braves’ Spencer Strider pitch in third rehab start?
How did Braves’ Spencer Strider pitch in third rehab start? appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider completed his third Minor League rehab start on Sunday afternoon with Triple-A Gwinnett after returning from a left oblique strain suffered late in Spring Training, continuing his buildup toward an expected return to Atlanta’s rotation.
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In his latest outing, Strider worked 5.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (2 earned), with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts over 82 pitches (50 strikes). He also faced a batter to open the sixth before exiting. In comparison, his previous rehab start produced 4 1/3 scoreless innings with just 1 hit allowed and 8 strikeouts against the same Jacksonville lineup.
Across Sunday’s appearance, Jacksonville again scored only while he was on the mound. Matthew Etzel doubled, stole third, and later scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. Christopher Morel reached base on a walk to begin the sixth after Strider had already reached 82 pitches.
Velocity data showed slight variation from his earlier rehab work. His four-seam fastball averaged 95.2 mph and topped out at 96.9 mph, down slightly from his prior start when it averaged 95.9 mph and peaked at 98.1 mph. Induced vertical break averaged 17 inches on Sunday, compared to over 18 inches in his previous outing, and was previously higher during his peak seasons.
Strider completed his third rehab start overall, and evaluation of his readiness is expected to factor heavily into activation timing. Manager Walt Weiss indicated that how Strider looked on the mound carries more weight than pitch count alone. He is not expected to pitch in the upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers , with a possible return projected for the weekend series versus the Colorado Rockies .
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The Braves’ rotation has been supported by Chris Sale , Bryce Elder , and Grant Holmes . At the same time, options such as Reynaldo Lopez have been discussed for bullpen movement depending on roster changes tied to Strider’s return.
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