The Atlanta Braves are facing a challenging start to the season as their pitching rotation takes another hit. Manager Walt Weiss announced that Spencer Strider will begin the season on the injured list due to an oblique strain. Strider was initially set to pitch in the spring training finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates but was sidelined, with no clear timeline for his return.
This setback adds to a growing list of injuries for the Braves. Both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep have been placed on the 60-day injured list following elbow surgeries. Additionally, left-hander Joey Wentz is out for the season after tearing his ACL.
The Braves' lineup isn't immune to adversity either. Ha-Seong Kim is expected to miss a month due to a hand injury, and Jurickson Profar faces a season-long suspension after testing positive for PEDs.
Strider's oblique issue is another bump in his journey since his All-Star appearance in 2023. He missed most of 2024 after undergoing UCL surgery, and last season he struggled, posting a 4.45 ERA over 125 1/3 innings.
As the Braves gear up for the season, they'll rely on Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and Grant Holmes as their top starters. Lopez is coming off a year with limited action due to shoulder surgery, while Holmes is returning from rehabbing a UCL tear without surgery.
Atlanta's decision to extend Sale was a strategic move, but with these recent developments, they might explore free agency or trade options to bolster their pitching staff.