Former Clemson pitcher Spencer Strider has gotten off to a strong start through his first four appearances of the 2026 season for the Atlanta Braves – and he delivered another impressive performance in his latest outing.
Strider improved his record to 2-0 on the season by earning the win in Thursday’s game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park in Miami. The power righthander struck out nine over his longest outing of the season (6.1 innings), while allowing three runs on four hits and two walks.
Strider generated a lofty 15 whiffs, and his nine strikeouts mark his highest total of the year.
It marked the second quality start of the season for Strider, who has pitched to a 3.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 27:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his four starts spanning 21 innings. He has allowed just 12 total hits and is holding opponents to a miniscule .171 batting average.
Strider is slated to make his next start against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday at Fenway Park in Boston.
Strider began the 2026 season on the injured list with a left oblique strain he suffered during spring training, keeping him out of action the first month of the season. He was activated from the injured list on May 3.
The oblique injury in spring training marked the latest injury setback for Strider, who underwent season-ending surgery in 2024 to repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He returned to make his 2025 season debut in April against the Toronto Blue Jays, but shortly after that start, he suffered a right hamstring strain that caused him to hit the injured list. He later returned to the mound in late May.
Overall, in 23 starts last season, Strider went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA with 1.40 WHIP while striking out 131 batters over 125.1 innings. Prior to his season-ending injury in 2024, Strider was an All-Star in 2023, when he led the majors in both wins and strikeouts.
That season, he racked up 281 strikeouts while posting a 20-5 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and allowing only 146 hits in 186.2 innings over 32 starts. He finished fourth in the 2023 NL Cy Young voting.
Strider, who was drafted by the Braves in the fourth round (No. 126 overall pick) of the 2020 MLB Draft, has compiled a 41-24 record, 3.71 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 653 strikeouts in 476 innings across 94 career regular season games (81 starts).