Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Braves Rest Strider, Promote Ritchie; Baldwin Returns

6/16/2026

48 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Strider Rested

The Braves placed Spencer Strider on a four-week rest after doctors diagnosed elbow inflammation.
Strider will see physician Dr. Keith Meister and have a follow-up MRI before returning to throwing work.
Rookie JR Ritchie moved into the rotation and is scheduled to start Wednesday against San Francisco.
Catcher Drake Baldwin was activated from the injured list, posting a .303 average and 13 homers.

Summary

Strider IL

Braves could place Strider on the 60-day injured list, freeing a roster spot before Aug 3 trade deadline.
If a follow-up MRI clears, his rehab schedules late-July starts and an MLB return in August or early September and will include a two-month program that shapes the club’s ability to add starters.
His fastball whiff rate fell from 28.7 % to 18.3 % and slider from 55.3 % to 39.8 %, a 483-strikeout 2022-23 season.

Summary

Braves Offday

The Braves have an off day before a six-game home stand starting Tuesday.
Stretch includes a series versus the San Francisco Giants followed by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Manager Walt Weiss said Hurston Waldrep will stay on a build-up after a 53-pitch outing for Double-A Columbus.
Spencer Schwellenbach continues flat-ground work targeting a 120-pitch limit.
AJ Smith-Shawver will start rehab soon and is not slated to pitch in the first half.

History

Historical Context

When the Atlanta Braves put rookie Tommy Hanson on the 60-day injured list in 2008, they used the MLB rule that removes a pitcher from the 40-man roster for severe elbow issues—a rule shaped by the 1974 Tommy John surgery that Dr. Frank Jobe performed on pitcher Tommy John on September 25, 1974. The Braves’ 2024 decision to rest Spencer Strider follows the same preventive philosophy.

1 of 4

Strider Rested

The Braves placed Spencer Strider on a four-week rest after doctors diagnosed elbow inflammation.
Strider will see physician Dr. Keith Meister and have a follow-up MRI before returning to throwing work.
Rookie JR Ritchie moved into the rotation and is scheduled to start Wednesday against San Francisco.
Catcher Drake Baldwin was activated from the injured list, posting a .303 average and 13 homers.

1 / 4