Braves' Strider Starts 2026 on IL with Oblique Strain

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider will begin the 2026 season on the injured list after suffering an oblique strain, the team announced Monday ahead of Major League Baseball's Opening Day. The 27-year-old right-hander, who was set to start the club's final spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, was scratched from that appearance in North Port, Florida.

Braves manager Walt Weiss confirmed the injury to reporters, expressing hope that Strider would miss only a couple of weeks. However, oblique strains typically require four to six weeks of recovery, potentially sidelining him for 24 to 38 games. Weiss did not provide a precise timeline, but the setback adds to a challenging spring for Atlanta's pitching staff.

Strider's injury history has been a persistent concern. He earned All-Star honors in 2023, leading the majors with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts. But he missed nearly all of 2024 following surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Last season, in 2025, Strider returned for 23 starts but posted a 7-14 record with a 4.45 ERA over 125 1/3 innings, hampered by reduced velocity and ongoing rehabilitation from the elbow procedure as well...