Fans of the Atlanta Braves have been holding their breath all season, waiting for Spencer Strider to step back onto the mound and restore order to a rotation that desperately needs a spark.
After UCL issues sidelined him for most of 2024, Strider returned this year only to land right back on the injured list with a hamstring strain following a single start. Now, he’s making it clear—he’s ready to go. But should the Braves give in to the temptation?
Strider’s own comments to Mark Bowman of MLB.com don’t exactly scream green light. He admits he hasn’t pitched in three weeks, even though he feels physically ready.
That’s the kind of honest, competitive energy fans love—but it’s also the exact kind of mindset that can put a player right back into the trainer’s room if the team doesn’t tread carefully.
The Braves Are Desperate for a Spark
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Braves are scuffling. At 19-21, they’re below .500 and dropping games to teams like the Pirates—hardly a playoff-ready resume.
The offense, once feared, has grown quiet, failing to produce in key situations. The starting pitching, ironically, hasn’t been the problem. Chris Sale, Grant Holmes, and AJ Smith-Shawver have given the Braves every chance to win, but the bats aren’t backing them up.
So what happens when your offense stalls and your ace says he’s ready? You get tempted. Strider’s return might not only improve the on-field product—it could energize the clubhouse. And if he comes out throwing darts? It changes everything. But if he’s not right, it could spiral fast.
Strider Hasn’t Been Himself
This isn’t just about one hamstring injury. Go back three starts—even into late 2024—and Strider hasn’t looked like the strikeout machine we saw early in his career.
His lone 2025 outing saw five Ks over five innings with two earned runs—not bad, but not vintage Strider. You can chalk that up to rust, but it’s not ideal when that rust is paired with recovering from multiple injuries.
What’s more concerning is the context. Strider hasn’t pitched in three weeks. No rehab starts. No bullpen action against live hitters. Just rest and a whole lot of waiting. Throwing him into a major league start under those conditions isn’t easing him back—it’s lighting a match near a powder keg.
The Long Game Matters More
Yes, Strider is a competitor. Yes, the Braves want to win now. But no win in May is worth the long-term health of one of baseball’s most electric arms. Strider is still just 26 years old.
Rushing him back with a lingering UCL history and fresh off a leg injury borders on recklessness. The Braves need him for the stretch run—not just for one game against the Marlins or Nationals.
Look, no one’s questioning Strider’s heart. He wants the ball. The team wants to give it to him. But sometimes the hardest decision is the smartest one: wait. Get him a rehab assignment. Let him find his rhythm. Because if he breaks down again, there may not be another comeback trail.
For a team this talented, short-term adrenaline isn’t worth long-term regret.
