ATLANTA – Dr. Keith Meister gave Spencer Strider and the Braves reason to believe the pitcher could be activated from the injured list at some point during the regular season’s final two months.
Meister found no structural damage when he evaluated Strider’s right elbow on Monday. The noted surgeon advised the pitcher to rest for a month and then undergo another MRI exam. If the scan is clean, Strider will be cleared to begin a throwing program.
So, when might Strider rejoin Atlanta’s rotation? Well, best-case scenario, he won’t even begin rebuilding his arm strength before the latter part of July. That would likely be the start of a four-to-six week process, which would include multiple Minor League rehab starts.
If all goes perfectly, a late August return seems possible. But an early September return might be more realistic.
This timetable would give the Braves the option of placing the right-hander on the 60-day injured list. More importantly, this update increases the possibility Atlanta could try to land multiple starting pitchers before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
JR Ritchie (No. 2 Braves prospect, No. 58 overall) will fill the open rotation spot. Ritchie has a 3.82 ERA in 30 2/3 innings for Atlanta this year.
Strider underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow while playing for Clemson in 2019. Meister then performed a UCL brace procedure when this same ligament was damaged in 2024.
Strider returned during the early portion of the 2025 season, making 23 starts with a 4.45 ERA. A left oblique strain during Spring Training delayed his 2026 season debut until May 3, but he’d been healthy until Friday, when elbow and shoulder discomfort forced him to exit his start against the Mets. He was pulled when his fastball dipped below 90 mph during the fourth inning.
An MRI exam performed on Saturday in Atlanta showed nothing but inflammation. The Braves still wanted Meister to evaluate the elbow and advise them with rehab and recovery plans.
Strider recorded a MLB-best 483 strikeouts from 2022-23, which were his first two full MLB seasons. His four-seamer averaged 97.2 mph during the 2023 season. The same pitch averaged 95.5 mph in 2025 and 95.1 mph this season.
Opponents had a 28.7 percent whiff rate against the four-seamer and a 55.3 percent whiff rate against Strider’s slider in 2023. Those percentages dropped to 18.3 percent and 39.8 percent, respectively, this year.