Spencer Strider is making an adjustment after a disappointing season in 2025 with the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta Braves are entering the 2026 season with high expectations once again, but much of their outlook depends on one key arm returning to form. After dominating just a few seasons ago, Spencer Strider is now working to reestablish himself as one of the most feared pitchers in baseball following an up‑and‑down 2025 campaign.
Strider’s struggles last season were a noticeable shift from his previous dominance. Across 23 starts, he posted a 4.45 ERA with a 7‑14 record, totaling 131 strikeouts over 125 1/3 innings. While the strikeout ability was still present, it was not at the elite level fans had come to expect, and his overall effectiveness took a step back as he worked his way back from injury.
That injury played a significant role in shaping his season. In 2024, Strider suffered a UCL issue in his right elbow that required an internal brace procedure rather than traditional Tommy John surgery. The recovery process clearly impacted his rhythm and consistency throughout 2025, something he has been focused on correcting this offseason.
Now fully healthy entering spring training, Strider has identified a few key areas he believes will help him return to his previous level in 2026.
“Plenty of things I need to do better. I think the simplest one is I got to be in the strike zone. I got to be competitive, need guys to swing, need guys to be behind in the count, you know, getting ahead, all of that stuff. So that's easy, that's just focus to me, and then execution. But then, you know, try to refine the stuff. Fastball shape was not the same as it has been last year. That definitely hurt me. So, you know, I've been focusing on that through the offseason,” Strider said at spring training.
The emphasis on fastball shape is especially important. Strider’s rise to stardom was built on a dominant fastball that overwhelmed hitters at the top of the zone, paired with elite strikeout numbers. In 2023, he led the entire league with 281 strikeouts and earned an All‑Star selection, cementing himself as one of the game’s premier starters.
For Atlanta, getting that version of Strider back would be a massive boost. The organization has already shown its belief in him, signing him to a six‑year, $75 million extension in 2022 that runs through 2028 with a club option for 2029. That kind of investment reflects how central he is to their long‑term plans despite his troubling year in 2025.
If Strider’s adjustments translate to results this spring, the Braves could once again have another ace leading their rotation alongside Chris Sale.