Former Clemson Star Spencer Strider One of Few Braves Starters Left After Latest Injury News

Sale, who was transferred to the 60-day IL this week, will be out until at least August 19 after fracturing a rib on June 18. The injury occurred while making a highlight-reel diving stop late in a dominant outing against the Mets. It ended what had been a brilliant run, with Sale posting a 1.23 ERA over his past 10 starts.

Meanwhile, López has been sidelined since April after undergoing shoulder surgery and may not return at all this year — or, if he does, only as a reliever. And 21-year-old AJ Smith-Shawver, one of the Braves most promising arms, is likely done through 2026 following Tommy John surgery.

Now, Schwellenbach’s injury strips Atlanta of yet another young option. The 24-year-old had shown flashes of promise before going down and is the third Braves starter this season to land on the IL for at least two months.

That leaves Atlanta scrambling. Didier Fuentes, 20, who had barely pitched above High-A before being called up last month, has made one start and is scheduled to pitch against the Angels this week. He’s been hit hard, surrendering 10 runs in 8 1/3 innings.

Spencer Strider has been working through the ups and downs of his recovery with a level of self-awareness few pitchers display. He’s acknowledged the patience it’s taken to return from elbow surgery, and the Braves’ rough start to the season only magnified the pressure for him to return to form quickly.

Recently, though, Strider has begun to resemble his old self. He’s delivered five straight outings of at least five innings while giving up no more than three earned runs in any of them. His ERA is down to 3.86, and his 3.56 FIP suggests he’s trending in the right direction.

But there’s still one area where he hasn’t fully bounced back — the swing-and-miss dominance of his fastball. In 2023, Strider’s four-seamer averaged 97.2 mph with a 28.7% whiff rate. This year, those numbers have dipped to 95.5 mph and just 18.1% on the whiff rate. While the velocity is ticking back up, the heater hasn’t yet become the overpowering weapon it once was.

On the offensive side, the Braves are attempting a reset of their own. Jurickson Profar returns from an 80-game PED suspension and will slot into left field. Profar, who hit 24 home runs with an .839 OPS last year for the Padres, was a surprise signing this offseason. However, his positive test means he’s ineligible for postseason play.

To activate Profar, the Braves designated Alex Verdugo for assignment. They also shuffled the bullpen, reinstating Daysbel Hernández from the IL and sending Kevin Herget to Triple-A while recalling lefty Austin Cox.

With three key starters down and Strider not quite at full strength, Atlanta is hanging on by a thread. And unless help arrives fast — either via the farm system or trade market — the Braves’ 2025 season is slipping away entirely.