Following Thursday’s series finale against the Nationals, which was headlined by stellar performances from Braves rookies Drake Baldwin and AJ Smith-Shawver, manager Brian Snitker told the media that Spencer Strider will return to the club next week and start against Washington.

Braves manager Brian Snitker says that pitcher Spencer Strider will come off of the IL and start next week against the Nationals.

— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) May 15, 2025

Spencer Strider completed a sim game yesterday, and while there were some concerns about his velocity — his fastball was sitting 94 on the afternoon — he put those to bed when he met with the media Thursday morning.

“Not gonna go out and throw as hard as I can in a sim game. Sure if I did, the pitching gurus on the internet would criticize me. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t,” Strider said, via Justin Felder of Fox 5.

"Not gonna go out and throw as hard as I can in a sim game. Sure if I did, the pitching gurus on the internet would criticize me. Damned if I do, damned if I don't."
Lot of attention paid to Spencer Strider's fastball velo in his rehab sim game. Got Strider's take this morning pic.twitter.com/6anCgPt78o

— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) May 15, 2025

If Spencer Strider is not worried about his velocity, nobody should be. But for the doubters out there, they won’t have to wait much longer to see him back on a major-league mound.

Another interesting aspect of Strider’s return is the question of who gets the boot in the rotation. Everybody is pitching well right now, but Brian Snitker has said the Braves will not go to a six-man rotation. My gut says it has to be Bryce Elder. I can’t imagine the Braves would even consider optioning AJ Smith-Shawver with the way he has been pitching of late. The club could also decide to move Grant Holmes back to the bullpen, where he had a ton of success last season.

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Photo: Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire