Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider Sidelled with Oblique Strain

Spencer Strider to start 2026 season on injured list

Atlanta Braves' star pitcher Spencer Strider to start 2026 season on injured list with left oblique strain.

Spencer Strider, Braves' All-Star pitcher, dealing with oblique injury ahead of 2026 season...

Atlanta Braves' star pitcher Spencer Strider is starting the 2026 season on the injured list due to a left oblique strain. This is a blow to the team's pitching rotation, which is already dealing with injuries to other starters.

Strider, 27, had a rough 2025 season, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts after starting the season on the IL with a hamstring strain. Despite this, he showed promise with 131 strikeouts in 125.1 innings. In his breakout 2023 season, Strider led the league with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts, earning All-Star honors.

The Braves are hopeful Strider will miss only a couple of weeks, but oblique injuries can be tricky. Manager Walt Weiss is optimistic, saying they've “gotten out in front of this thing to a degree” and are hoping it's not a big deal.

Strider will start the season on the IL with an oblique strain

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 23, 2026

Spencer Strider's road to recovery has been tough. He missed almost the entire 2024 season after undergoing UCL surgery, pitching in just two games. Before that, his breakout year was 2023, when he led the league with 20 wins, 281 strikeouts, and 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings - he was on fire.

Spencer Strider had a solid 2023 season, finishing with a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts, giving up 146 hits and 58 walks in 186.2 innings. He was lights out, but unfortunately, he's been struggling to regain that form since his UCL surgery.

The Braves are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season, where they failed to make the MLB postseason for the first time since 2017. Their 2026 season kicks off on March 27th against the Kansas City Royals - tough matchup to start the season.