The Atlanta Braves won’t have ace pitcher Spencer Strider for the rest of the 2024 Major League Baseball season after he underwent surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. His internal brace surgery typically takes 12 months to heal, compared to up to 16 months for recovery from Tommy John surgery.

The injury started when he struggled pitching during the Atlanta Braves' April 5 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He underwent an MRI, which their team doctor examined and determined he was undergoing surgery.

Following that timeline, the Braves hope he will be ready for Opening Day of the 2025 MLB season. Strider already underwent Tommy John surgery when he was in college, and the internal brace is a better alternative to a second surgery. Internal brace procedures are also typically used for patients with partial tears, while Tommy John is often for those with complete tears.

Losing Strider will be a massive blow to the Braves' cause. Last season, Strider finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting after tallying an MLB-leading 20 wins with only five losses. He had a 3.86 ERA and led the league in strikeouts (281).

Strider's fourth MLB season will end after two starts, giving up ten hits and striking out 12 batters in nine innings. Max Fried, Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, and Reynaldo Lopez will be their first to fourth starters with him sidelined. Allan Winans, Darius Vines, Dylan Dodd, and Huascar Ynoa are some of the pitchers who will compete for the fifth starting spot.

-Lance Fernandez