ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Strider exited Friday night’s game against the New York Mets after experiencing shoulder and elbow soreness. Subsequent imaging revealed inflammation in his right elbow.
Braves manager Walt Weiss said Strider let them know of the elbow and shoulder discomfort and that he wasn’t aware of the reduced velocity. Strider walked off the mound after a short consultation.
“It’s never good when a guy walks off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after a late comeback bid by Atlanta fell short in a 7-5 loss. “The alarm bells went off when we started seeing the upper 80s with his fastball,” Weiss said. “He’s been through a lot in the last few years, trying to work his way back.”
Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Strider (99) pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)(Eduardo Munoz Alvarez | AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Weiss told reporters Saturday that right-hander JR Ritchie, who pitched the final five innings in Friday’s loss to New York, will take Strider’s spot in the rotation. The Braves also recalled right-hander Anthony Molina to fill Strider’s spot on the 26-man roster.
Strider was making his eighth start of the season for the MLB-leading Braves after missing the first 34 games recovering from a strained left oblique. He is 4-2 with a 5.31 ERA this season and 11-16 with a 4.66 ERA since returning from the elbow surgery last year.
Strider was 32-10 with a 3.47 ERA in his first 67 big league appearances prior to the internal brace procedure. He became baseball’s most recent 20-game winner in 2023, when he went 20-5 while reaching 200 strikeouts in 130 innings — the fastest any pitcher has ever gotten to 200 whiffs in season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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