The Atlanta Braves got an update on injured right-hander Spencer Strider.
The Atlanta Braves received another update on Spencer Strider following their matchup with the Los Angeles Angels. The 27-year-old right-hander has continued progressing toward a return.
Strider has been sidelined with a left oblique strain suffered just before Opening Day, a frustrating development considering he had already been fully built up during spring training.
Despite the setback, he has continued throwing and steadily working his way back, offering optimism that his absence may not be a prolonged one.
That optimism only grew stronger with the latest update. “Braves manager Walt Weiss says Spencer Strider completed another positive bullpen session today. Strider’s next step is to pitch a live batting practice,” reported Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
This marks another important step in Strider’s recovery process. Completing multiple bullpen sessions without setbacks suggests his oblique is responding well, and advancing to live batting practice is often one of the final hurdles before beginning a rehab assignment.
Because Strider was already stretched out prior to the injury, there is a strong chance his eventual rehab stint will be relatively short. If everything continues trending in the right direction, a return by the end of April appears realistic.
That timeline would be a significant boost for a Braves rotation that has already been hit hard by injuries. Atlanta lost both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep during spring training, leaving the team relying heavily on depth options and veterans early in the season.
Strider’s return would immediately stabilize the group. It will also mark his sixth MLB season, all with the Braves, as he continues working his way back toward peak form.
His 2025 campaign was a challenging one, as it marked his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He posted a career-high 4.45 ERA and went 7-14, though he still recorded 131 strikeouts in 125 1/3 innings.
That strikeout total, while solid, represented a noticeable drop from his dominant 2023 season, when he earned an All-Star selection and led all of MLB with 281 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings.
As a result, there is significant attention on how Strider performs once he returns. The Braves do not need him to immediately reclaim his ace form, especially with Chris Sale emerging as the staff’s leader, but they do need him to be a frontline arm.
With Strider under contract through 2028 on a six-year extension worth $75 million, he remains a central piece of Atlanta’s long-term plans. If he can get back close to his previous level, it would go a long way in helping the Braves return to postseason contention in 2026.