Strider, 26, was simply one of the best pitchers in baseball before last year's elbow surgery. He pitched to a 3.36 ERA with 483 strikeouts in 318 ⅓ innings from 2022-23, and finished fourth in the 2023 NL Cy Young voting. Those 483 strikeouts led baseball those two seasons even though Strider ranked 36th in innings pitched.

Signs are pointing to Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider making his season debut on Wednesday. That’s the plan, for now, according to Braves manager Brian Snitker. A corresponding move is gonna have to be made.

Spencer Strider is expected to make his long-awaited return to the Braves' rotation Wednesday, April 14 in Toronto. When he takes the mound opposite the Blue Jays, it will be the first time Strider has done so in an MLB game in more than a full calendar year.