The Atlanta Braves couldn't be more excited to welcome Spencer Strider back into the rotation.
Strider, the fourth-place finisher in the 2023 National League Cy Young race, underwent right elbow surgery after only two starts last season. The Braves were able to make it to the playoffs despite his absence, but there was no doubt they were missing him by the playoffs.
Chris Sale was the ace of the Braves' staff in 2024, and he even won the Cy Young Award that Strider couldn't. But Sale is now 36 and owns a 6.63 ERA through four starts, while the rest of the rotation remains largely a question mark.
On Wednesday, after three dominant rehab starts (13 2/3 innings, 27 strikeouts), Strider will make his 2025 season debut in the Braves' series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. And Atlanta's social media administrators had a message for the rest of Major League Baseball.
"He's back," the Braves simply tweeted, with a sunglass-wearing smiley face emoji.
Strider, 26, took the league by storm before the injury. His 2022 rookie season featured a 2.69 ERA and 202 strikeouts across only 131 2/3 innings. The following season, he led the majors with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts, with a 3.88 ERA that was largely inflated compared to his 2.85 FIP.
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It's not as though Strider's return is some sort of luxury for the Braves, either. With Sale struggling, Reynaldo López on the injured list, and the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation up for grabs, they need him to start producing right away.
Based on those dominant strikeout numbers in Triple-A, it would be foolish to bet on Strider stumbling out of the gates. He'll hope to get the 5-12 Braves headed back toward .500 as quickly as possible.
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