Braves RHP Spencer Strider activated from injured list, will make first start vs. Blue Jays

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Atlanta Braves reinstated right-handed starting pitcher Spencer Strider from the 15-day injured list ahead of Wednesday’s game at the Toronto Blue Jays, the club announced.

Additionally, the team optioned Zach Thompson to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. The right-handed pitcher has three strikeouts across three innings this season.

Strider is in line to make his first start since April 5, 2024, as he underwent surgery to repair damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and missed the rest of the 2024 campaign after just two starts.

The 26-year-old made three rehab starts, notably striking out 13 hitters across 5.1 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on April 10. Across his three rehab starts, Strider totaled 27 strikeouts over 13.2 innings.

Strider led Major League Baseball with 483 strikeouts from 2022-23, posting a 3.36 ERA over 318.1 innings and finishing runner-up to teammate Michael Harris II in 2022 NL Rookie of the Year voting and fourth place in 2023 NL Cy Young voting.

Atlanta Braves' Injured Ace Spencer Strider Explains What Went Wrong with His Elbow

Atlanta’s rotation now consists of Strider, Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes. AJ Smith-Shawver was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday when the team recalled right-hander Michael Petersen simply for an extra bullpen arm. Peterson was optioned after the Braves reinstated left-hander Aaron Bummer from the major league bereavement list on Tuesday.

Smith-Shawver has pitched to a 4.61 ERA, 1.976 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 13.2 innings so far in 2025. This is likely not the last time we’ll see Smith-Shawver in a Braves uniform this season.

Reynaldo Lopez underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery on his right shoulder on April 8 and will not throw again until July, according to manager Brian Snitker. He will be examined at that point, and that’ll help determine if the right-hander is on track to pitch again in 2025.

“If everything goes right, I think we expect to see him again before the year is over,” Snitker said.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.

Braves’ Spencer Strider expects to make return at Blue Jays

Braves news: Spencer Strider's return, Ozzie Albies optimism, rotation questions loom

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider is expected to make his first start in more than a year Wednesday afternoon against the host Toronto Blue Jays

The teams have split the first two contests of the three-game series after the Blue Jays defeated the Braves 6-3 on Tuesday night.

It will be Strider’s first major league appearance since April 5, 2024. He missed the rest of the season when he had surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in the right elbow using an internal brace.

He struck out 13 in 5 1/3 innings during a rehabilitation outing with Triple-A Gwinnett on April 10. He allowed one run and three hits, throwing 90 pitches (62 strikes).

“He felt really good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Strider had a side session on Sunday to prepare for his season debut.

He was 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA with 281 strikeouts over 186 2/3 innings over 32 starts in 2023. He is 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA in one career start against Toronto, when he struck out 12 and allowed two runs (one earned) in 6 2/3 innings on May 12, 2023.

The series rubber match could be a good pitching contest with right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.98 ERA) scheduled to start for Toronto. He is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta.

The Braves had three more home runs on Tuesday, one by Austin Riley, who has three on the series. The Braves have hit six homers in the two games.

Spencer Strider nabs eight strikeouts in seven frames | 10/07/2023 | Atlanta Braves

The difference on Tuesday is the Blue Jays had runners on base when they hit their two home runs, both in the five-run fifth against Spencer Schwellenbach.

Alan Roden, who doubled and scored in the third, hit a two-run blast in the fifth for his first career major league home run.

“Hopefully today can kick-start him, but when you look up, he’s been productive, you know,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

Anthony Santander completed the fifth-inning onslaught with a three-run homer on a cutter that did not cut. It was the Blue Jays’ first three-run homer of the season and their 11th overall. High-priced Vladimir Guerrero Jr. still has not homered in 18 games after going 0-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.

“We know that power is going to come at some point, right,” said Santander, who has his first two homers of the season over the past three games. “Personally, I’ve been feeling good the last four games, hitting the ball a little harder, and hopefully I can continue that rhythm.”