In the Braves’ home opener against the Diamondbacks on Friday night, Spencer Strider got the start, and things did not go well. With three walks and four strikeouts in four innings pitched, the right-hander gave up five runs. In that period, he also threw 88 pitches. The 25-year-old was having elbow pain after the game, according to several Braves beat journalists, and he will have an MRI on Saturday.
Spencer has been making a lot of efforts to show fans that he likes having them around, so it’s unfortunate to hear that he’s suffering with this after such a promising start to 2024.
There was a hint, throughout Friday’s game, that something wasn’t quite right with Strider. He was clearly missing velocity on his fastball.He was averaging 1.2 mph less.
Although he was able to sustain 96 mph, that is a significant drop from the 97 to 99 mph range that he often hangs around.
After the game, Brian Snitker reported that Strider had indicated in the dugout that he was having trouble with his elbow, but he wasn’t sure if the problem had occurred during that final inning or the entire game.
What the Braves might experience if Spencer Strider sustains an elbow injury
Tommy John surgery is, of course, the major worry when it comes to elbow injuries. Having already had the procedure done during his sophomore year at Clemson, Strider was able to concentrate on retooling and becoming into the pitcher he is now.
The Braves’ pitching staff would be drastically changed by the addition of a second Tommy John. Instead, the organization would probably turn to Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Darius Vines, or Allan Winans, who are currently on the 40-man roster. The club’s plans for next season’s pitching staff would also change because recuperation takes 12 to 18 months.
Of course, Tommy John surgery is not necessary for every elbow injury.Although Gerrit Cole may miss a few months due to elbow soreness that he started having at the start of Spring Training, surgery isn’t
Though it’s understandable that Braves supporters are preparing for the worst, it’s crucial to keep in mind that not all elbow injuries require Tommy John surgery. Hopefully, that turns out to be the case and Atlanta’s star is just out for a few weeks.
Even if it’s small-scale, it’s better that it occurred now rather than later in the season. But according to pitchers, the hardest ache they get is in their elbows. Atlanta will handle Strider with extreme caution during this procedure. When additional information becomes available, we will let you know about it.
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