This 280-Strikeout Pitcher Continues to Struggle After Injuries
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
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.
More MLB: Yankees-Red Sox Blockbuster Trade Possibility Would Bring $120M Superstar to Bronx
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
11 minutes ago
- Fox News
Caitlin Clark remains sidelined with injury; Fever say there's ‘no timetable available' for return
After Caitlin Clark's standout first season in the WNBA ended with Rookie of the Year honors, the Indiana Fever star's sophomore campaign has been derailed by injuries. The Fever traveled to Las Vegas Thursday for a matchup against the Aces, but Clark will not be in the lineup due to a groin injury. Clark appeared to sustain the injury during a game against the Connecticut Sun July 15. On Thursday, the Fever provided an update on Clark's status. "Caitlin Clark underwent further medical evaluations earlier this week. The team can confirm that no additional injuries or damage were discovered through the evaluations," a Fever spokesperson said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. "Clark will continue working with the Fever medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation with the priority on her long-term health and well-being." The Fever added there is "no timetable available for Clark's return." Clark watched from the bench Tuesday as the Fever lost to the New York Liberty. Doctors in New York also evaluated Clark during the team's visit, according to multiple reports. Fever coach Stephanie White did not offer details about how those meetings with doctors went when she spoke to reporters Tuesday. Clark has appeared in 13 games so far this season. Earlier this year, she was sidelined for three weeks with a quad injury. A left groin injury kept Clark out two weeks. The current injury setback involves her right groin. The Fever have struggled without the star guard, winning just four of the 11 games she has was named a WNBA All-Star for a second time this year, but she did not participate in last weekend's game because of injury. "This is the first time I haven't felt like a young body that can run around and sprint every day and just continue to do that," Clark told Glamour over All-Star weekend. "Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind. It's been a journey learning about that." Clark was healthy during her standout college basketball career. She never missed a game at Iowa due to injury. When Clark has been healthy enough to take the court this season, she has not found the form that landed her All-WNBA First Team honors in 2024. Clark went into what could be described as a shooting slump at one point this season, making just 7 of 49 attempts from beyond the 3-point line in the last seven games she's played in. The 23-year-old did get off to a strong start this year, recording a triple-double in Indiana's season opener. Clark is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 assists. The Fever enter Thursday's matchup with the Aces with a 12-12 record.
Newsweek
40 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Remembering Hulk Hogan: His Most Iconic Wrestling Moments
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The professional wrestling world was shocked at the news that Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Gene Bollea, had sadly passed away at 71. The 12-time World Champion had established himself as one of the most popular wrestlers of all-time and the biggest draws in the history of the business. More Pro Wrestling: Hulk Hogan Dead At 71 After Cardiac Arrest While the Hulkster has fallen under controversy in recent years, there are still countless moments that established his legacy and pro wrestling as a whole. Here are some of Hulk Hogan's most iconic moments across WWE and WCW. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - March 27 1988: Hulk Hogan vs Andre the giant Wrestlemania Vl March 27 1988 at Historic Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey March 22 1988. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - March 27 1988: Hulk Hogan vs Andre the giant Wrestlemania Vl March 27 1988 at Historic Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey March 22 The Iron Sheik for His First WWF Championship While Hulk Hogan had a plethora of iconic rivalries throughout his career, one of his best was against The Iron Sheik. A classic tale of All-American baby face vs. foreign heel, Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to win his first World Championship, reversing the Camel Clutch into Hogan's now iconic Atomic Leg Drop. This would swiftly catapult Hogan as the greatest hero in the then-WWF, taking the place of Bob Backlund. Hogan would go on to hold the WWF/WWE Championship six times, reigning for a total of 2,185 days: the second most in WWE history. Slamming André The Giant at WrestleMania III In any sport, there is a moment when you can tell that things have changed, like Babe Ruth calling his shot or Michael Jordan's dunk from the free throw line. For professional wrestling, this was when Hulk Hogan slammed André The Giant at WrestleMania III. A seemingly unbeatable villain, André The Giant was billed as 7-foot-four-inches tall and over 500 pounds. Fans had no idea what to expect when Hogan To this day, Hogan slamming André remains the iconic image of professional wrestling. The Formation (and Break Up) of The Mega Powers While there are many names that are Synonymous with Hulk Hogan, the first one that comes to mind is easily "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Easily the biggest baby faces of the era, the wrestling world was blown away when Savage and Hogan joined forces to become The Mega Powers. However, two stars shining this bright could not remain near each other without imploding, and this would eventually happen after Savage grew jealous of Hogan's friendship with his wide, Miss Elizabeth. This would eventually result in their iconic battles at WrestleMania V, which is widely considered one of the best matches in both wrestlers' illustrious careers. More Pro Wrestling: Hulk Hogan's 10 Greatest Matches Of All-Time Joining The nWo At WCW Bash at the Beach 1996, Hogan came to the ring as if he were going to help Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger. Instead, he turned on the heroes, joining forces with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. This shocking heel turn marked the creation of arguably the most famous and popular faction in professional wrestling history: The nWo. And their effect would be felt on professional wrestling throughout the decades for better and for worse. The Fingerpoke of Doom While The nWo was easily the most popular thing going on in WCW, it also marked the unfortunate destruction of the company due to various issues behind the scenes. And there was one single in-ring moment that truly marked this controversy. In a highly-anticipated match between Nash and the now-named Hollywood Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. However, instead of a battle between two powerhouses, Hogan defeated Nash with a simple fingerpoke and pin. To this day, the "Fingerpoke of Doom" is widely considered to be the turning point for the Monday Night Wars and the eventual demise of WCW. Hulk Hogan's Face Off With The Rock After WCW went bankrupt, Hogan eventually found his way back to WWE to varying levels of success. That being said, one moment stands out as not just the best moment of Hogan's career, but Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's as well. Billed as an "Icon vs. Icon" match, this bout felt special from the moment the bell rang. As both Superstars faced each other, the crowd couldn't help but erupt in cheers and applause. While the match itself would be a good one, this singular moment before it even started captured something special. To this day, it is considered one of the greatest moments in WrestleMania history. More Pro Wrestling: Pro Wrestling World Reacts To Hulk Hogan's Sudden Death For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Fox Sports
42 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
3 Best Trade Destinations For Cleveland Guardians Star Closer Emmanuel Clase
Every MLB contender wants to improve its bullpen at the trade deadline, but how about going a step further and trading for arguably the best closer in baseball in Cleveland Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase? Cleveland is 51-51, 8.5 games out of first place in the American League Central as of July 24's loss and reportedly listening to trade offers for several of its best players, including Clase. Of course, they're also just three games out of an American League wild-card seed. Prying the two-time Reliever of the Year away from Cleveland will be difficult, as the 27-year-old Clase is under team control through 2028. But where there's a will, there's a way. All it takes is one team who feels their time is now to make a pennant run to make the trade offer deemed acceptable. Here are the three best trade destinations for Clase. 3. Los Angeles Dodgers The idea of the Dodgers, of all teams, making a blockbuster move to shore up a loose end sounds laughable. But removing the context of their historic two-year spending spree, L.A. needs help in its bullpen. The Dodgers entered Thursday with a 3.87 ERA, good for 23rd in MLB. Tanner Scott, who Los Angeles signed to a four-year, $72 million deal last offseason, leads MLB with seven blown saves and has a 4.14 ERA this season, and fellow free-agent signing Kirby Yates has underwhelmed (4.45 ERA). Clase would immediately become the Dodgers' new closer, moving Scott, who recently went on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation, into a set-up role when healthy. The right-handed Clase, who primarily throws a cutter and mixes in a slider, hits triple-digits on the radar, has pitched in the postseason and is as difficult to hit as any reliever in baseball. Clase would add a pitcher who induces weak contact and keeps runners off the basepaths to a Dodgers' bullpen that's currently surrendering 1.13 home runs per nine innings (27th in MLB); he would provide late-game clarity for manager Dave Roberts. Los Angeles could base a trade offer to Cleveland for Clase around right-handers Ben Casparius and Edgardo Henriquez and one of outfield prospects Eduardo Quintero and Mike Sirota. What could stop the Dodgers from pursuing Clase, though, is their potentially feeling that they could acquire one, if not two, other quality relievers for a lower price and bank on one of Scott and Yates pitching better late in the season. 2. Detroit Tigers Yes, making a divisional trade, let alone one involving a player of Clase's caliber, is challenging. That said, the Tigers making a move with the AL Central-rival Guardians for Clase would pay major dividends. Will Vest has pitched well as the Tigers' full-time closer this season, posting a 2.23 ERA over 41 appearances. At the same time, Detroit entered Thursday with a 3.83 bullpen ERA, good for 22nd in the sport. Vest could move back to a set-up role, which he previously found success in from 2023-24, while Detroit forms one of the best one-two reliever punches in the sport with Clase and the 30-year-old right-hander. Clase would also improve a Tigers' bullpen that's averaging 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings (24th in MLB). Detroit has an improved offense that's sixth in MLB in runs (491) and an electric starting rotation headlined by 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Casey Mize. The one part of this team that could use improvement is its bullpen, and acquiring Clase takes the pressure off Vest and Co. to seal the deal in the late innings. Detroit could base a trade offer for Clase around catcher/first baseman Thayron Liranzo and right-hander Troy Melton. All that said, the Tigers may refrain from trading for Clase under the impression that getting more efficiency in the middle-to-long relief roles would be more impactful than throwing a haymaker at improving the ninth inning, which has been fine as is. 1. Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies need help in the bullpen, and Clase offers an emphatic solution. Free agent signee Jordan Romano (6.69 ERA) has been unable to return to All-Star form in Philadelphia and veteran reliever Jose Alvarado is ineligible to pitch in the postseason due to the use of a performance-enhancing substance. Whether it's because of somebody struggling or a pitcher being unable to pitch down the road, the Phillies need answers in the back end of the bullpen. Ironically, Clase boasts a career-high in both ERA and WHIP this season. But those figures come out to a 2.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. That's considered a "bad year" for Clase, who posted an absurd 0.61 ERA and 0.66 WHIP in 2024. The right-hander is an intimidating force who would provide stability to a Philadelphia bullpen that entered Thursday 19th in MLB with a 3.64 ERA and one that's surrendering 1.12 home runs per nine innings (tied for 25th). Philadelphia could base a Clase trade package around infield prospect Aroon Escobar and outfielder and 2022 third-round draft pick Gabriel Rincones Jr., among others. It's a move that would be a long-term fix, as the Phillies would have Clase through 2028. With Clase holding down the ninth, manager Rob Thomson could lean into Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks continuing to improve and be set in the late innings moving forward. And if Romano gets back on track, their bullpen is that much deeper. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Cleveland Guardians Emmanuel Clase recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
