This was something special to watch—Spencer Strider stepped back on the mound Monday for his first start since early 2024, and he didn’t just look good. He looked perfect. After a lot of uncertainty, the Atlanta Braves look like their ace is back in action.
Strider Carves Up Red Sox Lineup
Facing the Boston Red Sox in Grapefruit League action, Strider retired all eight batters he faced, striking out six of them. He kicked things off by getting a groundout to start the game. He followed that up by striking out five batters in a row. His outing wasn’t just dominant. It was effortless.
Even more impressive was how efficient he was. Strider threw just 27 pitches, 23 of them were for strikes. That’s an 85% strike rate, which is insane even for a pitcher of his caliber. It was as sharp a return as the Braves could’ve hoped for.
Chris Sale’s Prediction Proves Right
Before Strider went onto the field, his teammate Chris Sale made a bold statement. Sale said, “Let’s not forget, he’s still the best pitcher on this team.” If there was any doubt about that, Strider put it to rest immediately. That is serious praise coming from the reigning NL Cy Young Winner Chris Sale.
It had been a long wait for the Braves ace. After making just two starts last season, an elbow injury shut him down for the rest of the year. He avoided Tommy John surgery but still had to sit and watch as the Braves’ season played out without him. Monday’s performance was a major step toward getting back to where he left off.
What Comes Next for the Braves Ace?
FanGraphs projects Strider to finish with a 9-5 record, 3.20 ERA, 158 strikeouts in 119 innings, and a 2.9 WAR this season. Those numbers suggest a strong return, but if Strider keeps throwing like this, he could easily surpass expectations.
The Braves expect him back in the rotation sometime between mid-April and late April. If this first outing was any indication, that return can’t come soon enough.
