Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will begin the 2026 season on the injured list after being diagnosed with an oblique strain, manager Walt Weiss announced Monday. The 27-year-old had been slated to start in Monday's spring training finale against Pittsburgh but was scratched. Weiss provided no return timeline, though he expressed hope Strider could rejoin in a few weeks.

Strider's injury compounds the Braves' pitching woes, as he missed most of the 2025 season and delivered his worst campaign with a 7-14 record and 4.45 ERA. He had shown promise in spring training, posting a 3.24 ERA in 8 1//3 innings before the injury. The Braves' rotation has already lost Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep to 60-day IL stints following elbow surgery, while Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL..