Atlanta Braves spring training got off to a familiar rough start this year when both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep went down with arm troubles. The Braves already had rotation concerns before those guys got hurt, so finding a way to navigate the first half without them was going to be a challenge. That challenge just got significantly harder after the latest news on Spencer Strider.
Strider pretty desperately needed a good start to 2026. Immediately after coming back from his second major elbow surgery, Strider's trademark velocity simply wasn't all there, and there was much discussion as to the changes he had made to adjust to his post-injury reality. Some thought that while he may not be the same guy ever again, he ended up becoming a more well-rounded pitcher as a result.
Sadly, Braves fans will have to wait to see what Strider brings to the table, as word came out from camp early on Monday that Strider is headed to the injured list with an oblique issue.
Strider will start the season on the IL with an oblique strain
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 23, 2026
Braves dealt yet another injury blow with Spencer Strider, and it is going to put their pitching depth to the test
This is pretty much the last thing the Braves needed at the moment. Yes, they do have Didier Fuentes around who could assist in the rotation, and Atlanta could always just use Martin Perez in the short-term. However, this Braves team is simply better with a healthy and productive Strider in their rotation, and we have no idea how long he could be out. Oblique injuries are notoriously difficult to put a return timeline on, and rehabbing them can be extremely finicky.
How the Braves respond to this latest obstacle is going to be interesting. Fans will likely start clamoring for JR Ritchie to get an opportunity again, but the exact severity of Strider's oblique injury (which came out of nowhere) will probably dictate Atlanta's next steps. If it is a mild injury, then using Perez to make a handful of starts makes sense (kind of). If it is a more severe oblique injury, then Fuentes or Ritchie could get strong consideration.
It is a good thing that the Braves had some young guys show up to camp pitching well. Between all of these injuries and Reynaldo Lopez's velocity dipping, Atlanta's rotation looks very sketchy at the moment. If Strider is out for an extended period of time, what little depth they have left is going to be put to the test.