Spencer Strider took another step toward his bid to rejoin Atlanta’s rotation in early May.
Strider recorded three strikeouts, issued two walks and allowed just one hit over 3 1/3 scoreless innings during High-A Rome’s 2-0 win over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws on Thursday night. This was the first of what will likely be at least three rehab starts for the hurler, who is on the injured list with an oblique strain suffered near the end of Spring Training.
This marked the first time Strider pitched in a game since his left oblique began to bother him after he pitched in a Minor League Spring Training game on March 17.
Strider retired the first eight batters he faced and then issued a two-out walk in the third. He surrendered a single and issued another walk in the fourth to end his outing. He was targeted to throw 45-50 pitches and ended up throwing exactly 50. His pitch count will likely rise by at least 15 when he makes his next rehab start.
Strider’s catcher on Thursday night was Sean Murphy, who is nearing his return from the right hip surgery he underwent in May. Murphy went hitless in his two at-bats. He will catch again Saturday and then serve as Rome’s designated hitter on Sunday. He’ll need to catch nine innings on consecutive days before he is activated.