ATLANTA -- Spencer Strider is ready to begin a rehab assignment that will prepare him for what the Braves are hoping will be an early May return to their starting rotation.
Strider will throw 40-45 pitches when he begins his rehab assignment with a to-be-determined Minor League affiliate on Thursday. The right-hander will likely make three starts before being activated from the disabled list next month. He hasn’t pitched in a game since feeling left oblique discomfort after pitching in a Minor League Spring Training game on March 17.
“He’s on the right path,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “But with starters, it takes time. We’ve got to build him back up now. So, that’s probably going to take the rest of the month.”
When Strider’s injury was revealed on March 23, the Braves said they felt like they dodged a bullet. More optimism was created on March 29, when the team’s president of baseball operations, Alex Anthopoulos, said, “I think it will be sooner rather than later that you see him back."
To be fair, Strider will return sooner than others who have experienced a more extreme oblique strain. If he ends up making three rehab starts, he could rejoin Atlanta’s rotation during the road series against the Rockies (May 1-3) or against the Mariners (May 4-6).
Strider cleared his latest hurdle on Saturday when he threw live batting practice at Truist Park. His fastball touched 95 mph multiple times, and he seemed to have a good feel for his secondary stuff.
“All signs are pointing in the right direction,” Weiss said.