The Atlanta Braves faced a major blow last season when their ace, Spencer Strider, was sidelined due to a torn UCL, leading to season-ending elbow surgery. Strider had only made two starts and pitched nine innings in 2024 before the injury occurred. Without him, Atlanta struggled with starting rotation depth, although the top of their staff performed well.
Chris Sale won the National League Cy Young Award and is expected to have another strong year. Braves’ top prospect, AJ Smith-Shawver, has shown flashes of brilliance this spring, and his development will be crucial for the team this season. However, the main focus remains on Strider’s return.
Speaking of the Braves’ ace, Atlanta recently received some good news.
According to Braves beat writer Justin Toscano, Strider is scheduled to return to the mound on Monday against the Boston Red Sox. This marks a significant step forward for Strider, the Braves, and their fans. However, it’s crucial to maintain realistic expectations for the hard-throwing right-hander.
First of all, he’ll likely only throw an inning or two. He’s still likely a long way away from throwing seven or eight innings in a single game. At the end of the day, it’s his first time on the mound in a real game setting in about a year.
There’s a chance Strider doesn’t look like the same pitcher he was in 2023. It will likely take a few times out to return to form. Still, this is a massive step in the right direction for Atlanta’s pursuit of the 2025 World Series.
