Atlanta Braves pitching staff receives more terrible news

The Atlanta Braves seem to can’t catch a break. Unfortunately for the Braves, right-hander Spencer Strider will begin the season on the injured list.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Strider has an oblique strain and is the latest injury to the Braves’ pitching staff. Left-hander Joey Wentz (ACL) and right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) and Hurston Waldrep (elbow) are also starting on the injured list.

Strider had been putting together a fantastic spring before this setback — 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA and striking out 11 in 8.1 innings. The Braves were counting on Strider to be their No. 2 starter in the rotation behind 2024 Cy Young Award winner left-hander Chris Sale.

The Atlanta Braves need to figure out the starting rotation to begin the season

With the season starting this week, the Braves are in a tight spot to fill out the starting rotation. Right-hander JR Ritchie had been in the running for the rotation — 2.25 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 12.0 innings — and would’ve been a great fill-in until he got assigned to minor league camp.

Left-hander Martin Perez did not make the Braves’ Opening Day roster, but agreed to stay with the team and is also an option. The former All-Star did well enough to earn a rotation spot this spring — 2.84 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.

However, the most immediate option would be 20-year-old right-hander Didier Fuentes. Fuentes made the team as a bullpen arm after striking out 17 in nine innings this spring.

Fuentes has never worked out of the bullpen in his professional career and could fill in nicely for manager Walt Weiss. Right-handers Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder will follow Sale in the rotation and try to hold things down until Strider returns.

Left-hander Jose Suarez — 3.85 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 16.0 innings — is also an option to start for Weiss in the rotation.

The Braves do have options on the free agent market available, but with the season starting on Friday, the Braves have limited time to find another arm.