Atlanta Braves' pitching sensation Spencer Strider finds himself back on the bench following a right hamstring strain sustained on Monday during a casual game of catch.
The Braves have swiftly shifted Strider to the 15-day injured list, a decision backdated to Friday. This comes just days after the right-hander made his highly anticipated return from elbow surgery, marking his first Major League outing since April 5 of last year.
Strider, the ace who dazzled with his performances in 2023, managed to pitch five innings against Toronto, conceding two runs in what ended up a 3-1 loss. The 26-year-old was eagerly awaited for his home season debut against St. Louis.
His brief 2024 run was cut short by the need for UCL internal brace surgery after only two starts, a setback following a stellar year where he finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting and was an All-Star. Strider boasted a 20-5 record, a 3.86 ERA, and topped the league with 281 strikeouts.
In response to Strider’s setback, Atlanta has called up Michael Petersen from Triple-A Gwinnett. Petersen, who has already impressed with two scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on April 13, is expected to fill the gap in the rotation.
Adding to the rotation's woes, fellow right-hander Reynaldo López is also sidelined following arthroscopic surgery earlier this month after just one start. He's projected to be out for at least three months.
