Spencer Strider has been arguably the best pitcher for the Braves this season, especially since he joined the rotation back in late May. He’s one of the main reasons I believe this Atlanta team is far better suited to win the World Series than they were last year, but that changes dramatically if he cannot contribute.
Right now, Spencer Strider is on the Injured List with an oblique strain, which can be a tricky injury to recover from. We’ve seen pitchers in the past take a couple of months to return, but the severity of the strain is important. The Braves are hopeful Strider will return once the postseason begins, and he took a substantial step in the right direction today.
Strider (oblique) felt fine while throwing on flat ground today. The next test will come when he attempts to throw off a mound.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) October 4, 2022
It’s a promising sign, but I will hold off on any premature celebrations. We really don’t know how likely Strider is to return until he throws off the mound without any pain, and one setback could be detrimental to him returning this season.
I think the Braves are a good enough team all around to overcome losing one single player. This team is far better than last year’s squad that lost Ronald Acuña. With that being said, if there were one player the Braves could ill afford to lose the most, Spencer Strider may be at the top of the list. He’s been that dominant as a starting pitcher this year.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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