ATLANTA – Braves ace right-hander Spencer Strider has torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an MRI scan showed Saturday, putting his status for the rest of the season in jeopardy.
The Braves said Strider will be further evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, at a date to be determined. The team did not announce the severity of the damage, but Atlanta coach Brian Snitker said the result was “not good.”
“I don't like that,” Snitker said. “You hate him. I feel so bad for him. I mean, this kid does everything right. He loves to compete. … We don't know what they're doing. We'll just have to wait and see…I'm sure they'll have something within a few days. ”
Strider complained of elbow discomfort Friday night after pitching four innings in Atlanta's 6-5 win over Arizona, giving up seven hits and five runs.
Snitker said Strider didn't mention the elbow problem until after the game.
Snitker admitted he was prepared for bad news after Saturday's MRI scan.
“You never expect these things to be good or just a blip on a screen,” Snitker said, noting that UCL injuries, which often lead to season-ending Tommy John surgery, are an important part of baseball's overall He added that it was a problem.
The Cleveland Guardians announced Saturday that ace Shane Bieber will undergo Tommy John surgery and end the season.
“They're throwing harder than ever and turning the ball over more than ever,” Snitker said, adding that the Stryder's long-term outlook remains bright.
“The good news is he's going to work things out and come back and have a really good career,” Snitker said.
Strider led the league in major wins in 2023 with a record of 20 wins and 5 losses. He also had the most strikeouts in the major leagues with 281.
The right-hander posted a 3.86 ERA last season. He has started two games this year and has an ERA of 7.00.
Snitker said he will wait for a plan to be announced on how to fill Strider's position in the rotation.
“We're going to get through tonight and see where we're at,” Snitker said. “There's going to be a lot of variables to overcome.”
