Pitcher Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves achieved an increasingly uncommon accomplishment in 2023, his second complete season in the major leagues. He had 20 victories. That makes him only the third National League pitcher to accomplish that milestone since Max Scherzer did it in 2016.
Since Gerrit Cole, who was with the Houston Astros at the time, in 2019, no pitcher in the American League has won 20. When Strider started the 2024 season, the Braves had high hopes for him. The Clemson product gave up two runs in five innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in his first-day start.
The Arizona Diamondbacks then hammered Strider for five runs in four innings on his subsequent appearance. The righty’s pitching elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament was repaired surgically a week later, and an internal brace was put in place by the physicians.
After his first two starts last season, the injury forced the Braves to be without their young ace. However, the Braves posted a significant, two-word statement on social media on Wednesday to offer its supporters, who have been hurt by a 5–12 start, something to be hopeful about before Wednesday’s game. On Wednesday morning, Strider was activated by the Braves from the disabled list.
Strider took the mound for the Braves’ interleague game against the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon in Toronto. Strider let up a one-out double to Anthony Santander in his first inning since April 5, 2024, but he ended the inning spectacularly by striking out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. To make place for Strider, right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson was optioned to the Gwinnett Stripers, the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate.
Strider recorded a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts during his 20-game-winning 2023 season, pitching a career-high 186 2/3 innings and striking out a major league-high 281 batters while only taking five defeats.
