Spencer Strider is on his way back, and that’s nothing but good news for the Atlanta Braves’ championship aspirations. The flame-throwing right-hander has already faced live hitters.
And if that’s not a sign he’s close, consider this: pitching coach Rick Kranitz had to tell him to dial it back. If you know Strider, you know he doesn’t do “dialing it back.” That’s a guy who’s feeling good and ready to let it rip.
The Braves Are Taking the Smart Approach
Before you start penciling him in for Opening Day, hold on just a second. The Braves aren’t about to rush their ace back onto the mound, and for good reason.
As much as Strider would love to be back ASAP, the front office is playing this smart. If everything goes well, he could be back by the second half of April. That’s a pretty reasonable timeline, but the key word here is if.
There’s no sense in pushing him too hard, too soon. Atlanta has their eyes on October, not just April, so expect them to take the cautious route—even if Strider is bouncing off the walls ready to pitch.
A Rotation That Could Be Among the Best
That said, let’s talk about the best-case scenario here. If Strider comes back at 100 percent and slots back into the rotation alongside a resurgent Chris Sale and a breakout Reynaldo López, the Braves are suddenly looking at one of the best rotations in baseball.
Add in Spencer Schwellenbach, who impressed last season with a 3.35 ERA over 123.2 innings, and you’ve got a group that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the National League.
A Fully Healthy Braves Team Is Dangerous
Let’s not forget just how much adversity this Braves squad dealt with last year. Injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Strider himself threw a major wrench into their season.
And yet, they still won 89 games and locked up a Wild Card spot. If those three come back fully healthy? That’s a completely different ballgame. This team should comfortably push into the mid-90s in wins, and if they play up to their potential, they could snatch the NL East crown right back.
So, if you’re thinking about sleeping on the Braves, don’t. If Strider is back to full strength, this team is coming for everyone.
