Braves face offseason decision as Spencer Strider struggles

Coming off one of their best series of the season — taking four of five from the Miami Marlins — the Braves had an opportunity build some more momentum against the reeling Mets with Spencer Strider on the mound.

Unfortunately, this one would end with utility infielder Luke Williams pitching, and ironically, he was actually more effective than the Braves’ starter.

In his first season back from InternalBrace surgery, Spencer Strider has looked like a shell of himself in all facets. After giving up eight runs with only two strikeouts over four innings yesterday, his ERA is approaching five on the season. His strikeout rate — while still high compared to the rest of the league — is down nearly a full 10 percentage points compared to his peak in 2023. Strider is walking more batters, and when he’s getting hit, he’s getting hit as hard as any other pitcher in baseball.

A lot of that is due to his fastball velocity. Once a unicorn pitch that sat around 99 MPH and was pretty much untouchable no matter where Strider missed, his heater now hangs around the mid-90s. Opponents are batting nearly .300 and slugging over .500 against it, with the whiff rate plummeting to 15.5% from 28.7% in 2023.

Strider is pitching like a below-average starter right now, the kind who might be fighting for a roster spot next season if not for his name recognition and the long-term contract the Braves gave him early in his career.

That said, history shows many pitchers take a full season to regain form after UCL surgery. A healthy offseason could help Strider recover velocity, stamina, and command. But the Braves can’t bank on that happening.

It’s the same mistake they made last winter — expecting Strider, fresh off major surgery, to replace the production of Max Fried. He’s earned the right to work through his struggles as a starter next season, but Atlanta can no longer count on him as a frontline ace.

Finding another top-of-the-rotation arm is now the Braves’ No. 1 priority this offseason.

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