It’s been 376 days since Spencer Strider last stood on a major league mound for the Atlanta Braves. After UCL surgery and months of rehab, the 26-year-old fireballer was finally back in Braves blue, facing the Toronto Blue Jays in a Wednesday matinee. And while the final line in the box score—a 3-1 loss—won’t turn many heads, the story is deeper than numbers.
Strider gave Atlanta five-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five, walking one, and hitting a batter. He tossed 97 pitches—58 of them for strikes—and, in true Strider fashion, dialed it up to 98 mph in the first inning. But this wasn’t about dominance. This was about the beginning of a new chapter.
Welcome Back, But No Fairy Tale Ending Yet
Let’s be clear: Strider wasn’t vintage Strider. He admitted it himself. The off-speed stuff lacked “conviction and consistency,” and he didn’t execute with two strikes the way he wanted.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took advantage, smoking a full-count slider 412 feet into the second deck for his first home run of the season—adding insult to a two-hit day off Strider.
But look at the big picture. This guy hadn’t pitched in a big league game since April 2024. And he just went toe-to-toe with a playoff-caliber lineup, gave his team a chance, and showed flashes of the arm that led all of baseball in strikeouts just two seasons ago. This wasn’t dominance—it was foundation-laying.
Manager Brian Snitker was quick to highlight that. “It’s good to have him back,” Snitker said. “He’s going to get stronger. He’s got some moxie, he’s going to be fine.”
That moxie showed itself again when Strider struck out Bo Bichette on three pitches to start the game and stranded runners on second and third with a key strikeout of Myles Straw in the second.
Bassitt and the Blue Jays Put the Braves on Ice
On the flip side, Toronto’s Chris Bassitt was filthy. He struck out a season-high 10 batters over six innings, surrendering just three singles.
The Blue Jays’ pitching staff combined for a franchise-record 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. That’s the kind of stat that makes even the hottest bats look cold—and Atlanta’s offense wasn’t exactly scorching to begin with.
The Braves are still struggling to get in rhythm. They’ve gone 5-6 since a 0-7 start and are 2-11 on the road with zero back-to-back wins on the season. It’s been disjointed, frustrating, and hard to watch at times. But this team is far from out.
Strider’s Message: Doubt the Braves at Your Own Risk
Strider summed up the mood best postgame: “We’re not in a great position at the moment. That’s fine. It’s still early in the season. People want to doubt us, that’s great. Bring it on.”
That’s not bravado—it’s belief. And for a team looking to shake the early-season rust and ignite their playoff hopes, having that belief back in the clubhouse might be just as important as the heat Strider brings on the mound.
So no, the Braves didn’t get the storybook win. But they got something better: a healthy ace with a chip on his shoulder. And the rest of the league better believe—that chip just might be Atlanta’s spark.
