Fantasy News

• Braves' Spencer Strider: Less damage than expected

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  Strider suggested Friday that he could be back on a mound early next season after doctors found that his ligament was in "surprisingly good" shape during surgery, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. The right-hander indicated that the internal bracing procedure he underwent last week ended up being necessary because of a loose bone fragment in his elbow that had developed over the last couple years. "That's what destabilized the ligament," Strider said. Atlanta will likely be cautious with its ace's recovery, but the fact that he avoided Tommy John surgery and the relatively positive news about the state of his ligament are strong signs that he could still have significant fantasy value in 2025.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Out for season

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Strider underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow and will miss the rest of the season. An MRI revealed damage to Strider's UCL last week, forcing him to undergo an internal brace procedure that will keep him out for 12-to-14 months -- though it was not a full Tommy John surgery. Nonetheless, he's been ruled out for the rest of the 2024 campaign and will likely aim to return in the early months of 2025. The newly recalled Darius Vines could take Strider's place in Atlanta's rotation, although the team has plenty of other options if he falters.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Officially moves to injured list

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Atlanta placed Strider on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. The 25-year-old righty underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed damage to the UCL in his right elbow, so it was only a matter of time before he landed on the injured list. It's unclear at this point if Strider will require Tommy John surgery -- which would be the second such procedure of his career -- but he's likely facing a lengthy absence regardless.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: MRI shows damage to UCL

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Strider underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will be further evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, at a date yet to be determined. Strider reported discomfort in his right elbow after his second start of the season in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over Arizona, and the worst-case scenario seems to be unfolding for the 25-year-old. If Tommy John surgery is deemed necessary, it would be the second for Strider in his young career. He should be considered out indefinitely, with a move to the injured list likely before the weekend is out. Bryce Elder is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to replace Strider in Atlanta's starting rotation.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Dealing with elbow discomfort

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  Strider reported discomfort in his right elbow after his start Friday against Arizona, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Strider surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and three walks across four innings while striking out four, and his elbow may have played a part in his poor performance. He's slated to receive an MRI on Saturday, which will provide a better idea of how much time -- if any -- the right-hander will miss.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Atlanta-Chicago postponed Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Strider won't start Wednesday after Atlanta's game versus the White Sox was postponed due to inclement weather in Chicago, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports. The game will be made up on June 27, which had been a mutual off day for the two clubs. Atlanta is off Thursday, which means Strider's next start will come Friday at home against the Diamondbacks.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Fans eight in no-decision

  Rotowire Mar 29, 2024

  Strider came away with a no-decision in Friday's 9-3 win over the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out eight. The right-hander fired 59 of 90 pitches for strikes and generated 18 swinging strikes in a typically dominant performance, but Atlanta didn't take the lead until the eighth inning. Strider led all pitchers with 35 strikeouts this spring in 22.2 innings, and he didn't slow down in his first regular-season start. After racking up a league-high 281 Ks last year in 186.2 innings, Strider will take aim at 300 in 2024.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Atlanta-Philadelphia opener postponed

  Rotowire Mar 27, 2024

  Strider and Atlanta won't face the Phillies on Thursday after the game was postponed due to forecasted rain in Philadelphia. The season opener for both clubs has been rescheduled for Friday at 3:05 p.m. ET. Strider, who had been slated to take the hill Thursday, will presumably be bumped back one day in the schedule to go head-to-head against the Phillies' Opening Day starter, Zack Wheeler.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Arsenal could expand

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2024

  Strider unveiled a curveball during a live batting practice session against Matt Olson on Monday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. After the BP session, Strider was reluctant to label his new toy as a true curveball, instead suggesting it was just a modified version of his slider. "The terminology, you know, on all this stuff - sweeper, slider, cutter, curve, slurve, who knows what anything does? I think it's just manipulating the ball a little more, seeing what kind of different shapes I can get." The right-hander has become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball while relying on two pitches, a fastball that in 2023 had an average velocity of 97.2 mph (93rd percentile) and a slider that generated a 55.3 percent whiff rate. Strider did sprinkle in a changeup once in a while last year (7.3 percent), but if he can add another breaking pitch as well, at-bats against him could become even more frustrating.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Fans seven in loss

  Rotowire Oct 13, 2023

  Strider took the loss in Thursday's 3-1 defeat to the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks across 5.2 innings. He struck out seven. Strider was not as sharp as his start in Game 1 of the series and once again found himself on the wrong side of the decision. The bulk of the damage came on two home runs from Nick Castellanos in the fourth and sixth innings, both of which came on pitches Strider left inside to the pull-happy outfielder. Although Strider struggled with allowing constant traffic on the basepaths, he also racked up 19 whiffs, underscoring the rollercoaster command that plagued him in this start. His postseason concluded with a 2.84 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings with 15 strikeouts.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Confirmed for Game 4 start

  Rotowire Oct 11, 2023

  Strider will start Thursday in Game 4 of the NLDS in Philadelphia, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. This was merely a formality, as Strider started Game 1 and will be on regular rest Thursday. He took the loss in the series opener in spite of a terrific effort which saw him allow two runs (one earned) while striking out eight over seven innings. The Phillies have not yet confirmed their Game 4 starter, but it's expected to be Ranger Suarez.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Confirmed for Game 1

  Rotowire Oct 6, 2023

  Strider will start Saturday against the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS. Strider struggled toward the end of the regular season, posting a 5.60 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 27.1 innings in September. However, he was dominant in the two starts he made against the Phillies that month, giving up four runs over 14 innings while striking out 20 batters and walking just two.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Notches 20th win

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  Strider (20-5) earned the win Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over five innings against the Nationals. He struck out seven. Strider closed out the 2023 regular season on a high note Saturday, posting a quality start and fanning seven batters en route to his 20th win of the campaign. While the 24-year-old allowed three or more runs in five of his last six starts, Strider managed to finish 2023 with a 3.86 ERA and 281:58 K:BB across 186.2 innings while leading the league in wins and strikeouts.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Collects 19th win

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Strider (19-5) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over 5.2 innings to earn the win in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Nationals. Strider picked up his fourth win when allowing four or more runs this year. Despite not having his best stuff, he's now won three stars in a row, allowing eight runs over 19.2 innings with a 24:3 K:BB in that span. The Atlanta ace has a 3.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 274:55 K:BB through 181.2 innings over 31 starts this season. He should get a chance to be the only 20-win starter in MLB this year with one more projected start in the regular season, tentatively lined up to be at home against the Nationals.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Punches out 11 in win

  Rotowire Sep 19, 2023

  Strider (18-5) earned the win Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits over seven innings against the Phillies. He struck out 11. Strider was dominant Tuesday, keeping the Phillies off the board for five innings before Bryce Harper launched a three-run homer. Still, the 24-year-old Strider would hang on for his 18th win, the most in the majors, while racking up double-digit strikeouts for the 11th time this season. Strider increased his league-leading strikeout total to 270 to go along with a 3.73 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He's currently slated for a road matchup with the Nationals in his next outing.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Next start pushed to Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Strider is dealing with an illness but is in line to make his next turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Phillies, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. The right-hander originally lined up to make a start during Monday's series-opening doubleheader, but the ailment will push him back a couple days in Atlanta's rotation. Since Strider won't be having his turn in the rotation skipped entirely, the illness doesn't look to be anything that will affect him from a workload standpoint when he returns to the mound Wednesday. Strider was chased in the third inning after allowing six earned runs in his most recent outing last Wednesday versus the Cardinals, but he went 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB in 27 innings over his preceding four starts.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Rocked by Redbirds

  Rotowire Sep 7, 2023

  Strider (16-5) took the loss against St. Louis on Wednesday, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 2.2 innings. Strider struggled from the start of the contest, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk in the first frame. He got through the second unscathed despite allowing another hit, then issued two free passes around two hits in the third before departing with two outs in the inning. It was a frustrating start against a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of scoring, both for the hurler and for fantasy managers who roster him in head-to-head leagues currently in the playoffs. Strider has been one of the best pitchers in the game this season, but this was a good reminder that he isn't immune to blow-ups, as he's now allowed at least five runs in an outing five different times through 28 starts.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Tallies nine punchouts in win

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2023

  Strider improved to 16-4 with a win over the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters over six innings. Strider gave up a run in the first frame before Atlanta put up a six-run second. The right-hander cruised from there until Mookie Betts tagged him for a three-run shot in the fifth inning. That cost Strider a chance at a quality start, but he still finished with his fourth straight victory. This was the first time during that streak that Strider has given up more than one run, and he put up solid numbers in August, going 5-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 46:13 K:BB over 36.1 frames across six starts.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Fans 10 in 14th win

  Rotowire Aug 19, 2023

  Strider (14-4) picked up the win in Friday's 4-0 victory over the Giants, scattering one hit and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out 10. The right-hander retired the first nine batters he faced before putting LaMonte Wade on with a walk to lead off the fourth inning, and that was the only frame in which Strider even let a runner get into scoring position. He generated 32 called or swinging strikes among his 97 pitches as he fanned double-digit batters for the first time in August and the 10th time this season. Strider will take a 3.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 227:46 K:BB through 146.1 innings into his next outing, likely to come at home next week against the Mets.

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• Braves' Spencer Strider: Blanks Mets for 13th win

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  Strider (13-4) picked up the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Mets, allowing three hits and four walks over seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory. He struck out six. New York scored only three runs total on the day and none off either of Atlanta's starting pitchers, failing to cash in the opportunities Strider gave them in the nightcap. The right-hander has issued multiple free passes in three straight starts, but he's also delivered quality starts in three of his last four outings. Strider's 4.67 ERA in 34.2 innings since the All-Star break isn't reflected in his 51:13 K:BB or 1.21 WHIP, and he'll look to bring those ratios down further in his next start, likely to come at home next weekend against the Giants.

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