Strider (elbow) will start Sunday's spring game against the Orioles and is scheduled to throw about 45-50 pitches, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
It'll be the second Grapefruit League appearance for Strider, who is nearing the end of his rehab from an internal brace procedure. The right-hander threw 27 pitches across 2.2 innings during his spring debut Monday, and he'll require at least a couple more outings after Sunday to ramp up his workload. Strider could be ready to join Atlanta's rotation in mid-April.
Strider (elbow) struck out six batters over 2.2 perfect innings during his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox.
Cleared to pitch for the first time since April 5, 2024 after completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Strider looked as dominant as ever Monday. He found the strike zone on 23 of his 27 pitches and struck out six of the eight batters he faced, with the other two outs coming on a weak popout into foul territory and a first-pitch groundout. His velocity also appeared right in line with pre-surgery levels, with Strider topping out at 98 miles per hour on a first-inning strikeout of outfield prospect Roman Anthony. Since Strider will still need to get stretched out over the course of multiple starts, he remains on track to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but his dominant performance Monday makes a mid-to-late April debut increasingly realistic and is likely to send his ADP soaring.
Braves' Spencer Strider: Set for spring debut Monday
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) will make his first start of spring training Monday against the Red Sox, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
It's a big step for Strider, who will be seeing his first game action since he underwent an internal brace procedure on his elbow last April. The right-hander will begin the campaign on the injured list, but he could make his 2025 debut in late April if he remains on schedule with his rehab.
Strider (elbow) is tracking toward joining the Atlanta rotation in late April, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Atlanta has been resistant to offering any specific timetable for Strider's return from an internal brace procedure on his elbow, but Feinsand hears from sources that "it's reasonable to expect" the right-hander to make his season debut toward the back end of April. Strider is close to being able to pitch in a game, either in a Grapefruit League setting or a more controlled minor-league contest.
Strider (elbow) will throw at least one more live batting practice session before getting into a spring game, either in Grapefruit League action or in a minor-league contest, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The ace right-hander looked very good in his first live BP session Friday, tossing two simulated innings as he continues his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow. "I think it's gone super well," Strider said about his rehab after the BP session. "In hindsight, there's always going to be things we could have done differently, places where we should have slowed down and places where we should have sped up. But I think it's been a really seamless process so far." If Strider is able to begin building up by the final week of camp, it's possible he could come off the IL and rejoin the Atlanta rotation by the end of April, although the team's schedule presents an added wrinkle on that front. Atlanta will be playing in Coors Field on April 28-30, hardly an ideal environment for a pitcher to make his return from a serious arm injury.
Braves' Spencer Strider: Shines in live BP on Friday
Rotowire
Strider (elbow) threw 30 pitches in a live batting practice session Friday and used all his pitches, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Facing the rehabbing Ronald Acuna (knee) as well as Ozzie Albies, Strider recorded four strikeouts over two simulated innings and drew a "that was nasty" comment from Albies after the second baseman flailed away at a breaking ball. Strider will begin the season on the IL as he completes his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow performed early last year, and Atlanta has avoided providing any sort of target date for his 2025 debut, but the right-hander appears to be making excellent progress.
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