NEW YORK -- Spencer Strider exited his start during the Braves’ 7-5 loss to the Mets at Citi Field Friday night in the fourth inning, after a leadoff walk against MJ Melendez prompted manager Walt Weiss and a trainer to call a mound visit and check on the right-hander. After a bit of discussion, with the whole infield joining for the visit, Strider walked off with the trainer. The Braves later announced that Strider left the game with soreness in both his right elbow and shoulder.
JR Ritchie, the Braves’ No. 2 prospect who was recalled to the Majors on Wednesday, replaced Strider and pitched five scoreless innings. Strider's night ended with a line of seven earned runs allowed on six hits in three-plus innings, notching just three strikeouts with one walk (and one hit batter).
The 27-year-old's eighth outing in his comeback from a left oblique muscle strain during Spring Training got off to a disjointed start, with a one hour and 16 minute rain delay pushing first pitch back. After striking out leadoff batter Carson Benge with three straight fastballs, Strider gave up back-to-back home runs to Bo Bichette and Juan Soto.
In the following inning, Strider retired the first two batters, but then allowed two straight hits to Melendez and Luis Torrens at the bottom of the order before hitting Benge with a 93.8 mph fastball. Strider left a 94.2 mph fastball over the plate to Bichette, who hit an opposite-field grand slam.
Strider threw 68 pitches before being removed, with 43 of them going for strikes. Compared to his season average, the velocity was down on three of his four pitches: four-seam fastball (1.6 mph lower), slider (1.1 mph) and curveball (2.6 mph). His velocity on all four of his pitches dropped steadily in each inning of work. The last fastball that he threw to Melendez was an 87.8 mph called strike.