An MRI conducted on Saturday revealed that Braves’ star right-hander Spencer Strider has sustained damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, raising concerns about his availability for the remainder of the season.
The severity of the injury remains undisclosed by the Braves, but manager Brian Snitker expressed pessimism about the outcome, stating, “You hate it for him.”
Strider is scheduled for further evaluation by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, with the specifics of his treatment plan yet to be determined.
Spencer Strider at Braves (Credits: MLB)
The discomfort in Strider’s elbow surfaced after his four-inning performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, during which he conceded five runs on seven hits. According to Snitker, Strider didn’t report the issue until after the game.
Anticipating unfavorable results from the MRI, Snitker highlighted the prevalent challenges posed by UCL injuries in baseball, with many culminating in season-ending Tommy John surgery, as evidenced by the recent announcement of Cleveland Guardians’ ace Shane Bieber undergoing the procedure.
Spencer Strider at Braves (Credits: MLB)
Acknowledging the setback, Snitker remains optimistic about Strider’s long-term prospects, affirming, “The good news is he’ll get whatever it is fixed and come back and have a really good career.”
Strider’s performance in the 2023 season was stellar, boasting a 20-5 record and leading the league in wins, along with tallying the most strikeouts (281). However, his current season has seen a stark contrast, with a 7.00 ERA after two starts.
Regarding plans to fill Strider’s void in the rotation, Snitker indicated a need for evaluation, stating, “There are going to be a lot of variables to get through.”
