Spencer Strider is again. That is the excellent news for the Atlanta Braves.
The dangerous information, from Strider’s perspective not less than, is that he might have to ease himself again into MLB play.
He is been off the big-league mound for the previous 376 days as he recovered from a UCL harm in his proper elbow. Strider received the beginning on Wednesday afternoon in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays on the Rogers Centre, and the Braves have been undoubtedly joyful to see him again.
He did wrestle a bit, although, particularly together with his command. In 5 innings pitched, Strider gave up 5 hits and two earned runs. He did strikeout 5, which is good, however he walked one batter, hit one other and simply 58 of his 97 pitches thrown have been strikes.
After the competition, Strider did really feel he may pinpoint the place he was struggling, and that is step one towards getting higher.
“For me, did not do a great job of executing with two strikes,” Strider stated, according to the AP via ESPN. “Felt like my off-speed [pitches] did not have plenty of conviction, plenty of consistency. That makes it laborious to pitch.”
He additionally wasn’t essentially joyful together with his outing. Certain, He was taking part in for the primary time in over a yr, and that is a giant deal, however he is not searching for participation trophies for simply exhibiting up.
“My job is not to come back again and have a second and all that,” he defined. “That is not how I have a look at it. I am right here to assist the staff.”
Strider has been within the large leagues since 2021. He has a career 3.47 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He was an All-Star and Cy Younger candidate in 2023 after posting a 20-5 win-loss report with a 3.86 ERA and 281 strikeouts.
