This 280-Strikeout Pitcher Continues to Struggle After Injuries
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Just two seasons ago, a young right-hander by the name of Spencer Strider put together one of the best pitching seasons in the history of MLB.
Strider went 20-5 with 281 strikeouts across 32 starts and 186 2/3 innings pitched. He was an All-Star and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting that season. Since then, his career has been on a bit of a slide, and he looks nowhere close to the 20-game winner he was two years ago.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 03: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on June 03, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 03: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on June 03, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Strider made just two starts last season before being shut down due to an elbow injury that required surgery to replace his ulnar collateral ligament.
That same injury forced his season debut this year to come on April 16, when he allowed two runs and struck out five batters over five innings. Strider suffered a hamstring injury in that outing and was forced to miss over a month before making his next start.
Strider allowed five runs, including three home runs, on Monday in Atlanta's 8-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He lasted five innings, the most he's pitched since his season debut in mid-April.
2 at-bats, 2 home runs for Ketel Marte! pic.twitter.com/N01IhQKcGx — MLB (@MLB) June 3, 2025
Strider has made three starts since coming back from the hamstring injury and has allowed 10 runs and struck out 14 across 14 innings pitched. His season ERA is now 5.68 and the Braves have lost all four games he's started.
A major area of concern for Strider has been the dip in his fastball velocity. During his 20-win season, his average fastball velocity of 97.2 mph ranked in 92nd percentile. Fast forward to this year and although it is a small sample size, Strider's average fastball velocity has fallen to 95.1 mph and is in the 68th percentile.
There is certainly plenty of time for Strider to regain his confidence and find that fastball velocity again, but with at least three more seasons remaining on a six-year, $75 million contract, the Braves may have quite a bit of buyer's remorse if he continues to struggle.
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