On Friday, Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider was forced to leave his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks early due to discomfort in his right elbow. The 25-year-old pitcher underwent an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury. During his four innings on Friday night, Strider’s velocity noticeably decreased over the course of his 88-pitch start.
Strider, who led MLB in wins and strikeouts last season, struggled during his first start of the year, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks before leaving the game. This was the eighth time in 54 starts that he pitched only four innings and the sixth time he did not record at least five strikeouts in a start. Braves manager Brian Snitker noted that Strider was complaining about his elbow after the game, expressing discomfort with how it was feeling.
The loss of Strider would be a significant blow for the Braves, who are currently leading the NL East with a 4-2 record. Last season, Strider had a record of 20-5 with 281 strikeouts and finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting. The 2024 MLB season has been challenging for pitchers across the league, with several notable names already on the injured list. Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer, and Jacob deGrom of the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively, are among those dealing with injuries. Additionally