Spencer Strider DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow) won't be on the Opening Day roster, according to the team's general manager Alex Anthopoulos. As expected, Strider won't be ready for the beginning of the season as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. However, the Braves are hopeful that Strider can pitch in a game before the end of spring training. At the moment, Strider isn't expected to be back in the Braves rotation until around late April. Honestly, fantasy managers might be forced to wait until around May as the Braves aren't going to rush anything with their ace pitcher. Once healthy, Strider is one of the best in the league, so he's well worth holding on an IR spot in fantasy leagues until he's ready to go.

MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes that Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) could rejoin the team's starting rotation by the end of April, barring any setbacks in his recovery from elbow surgery. Strider has been throwing bullpen sessions and could be allowed to throw in at least one game before the end of spring training. His progress throughout camp will be closely followed after he had an internal-brace procedure last April. There will be considerably more risk with the 26-year-old in 2025 after he was only able to make two starts in 2024, and the Braves will likely limit his innings early on when he rejoins the rotation. However, the upside is hard to pass up after he posted league-highs in wins (20), strikeouts (281) and FIP (2.85) in 32 starts as an All-Star in 2023. Because of the fact that he could work fewer than 100 innings, RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 43 fantasy starting pitcher for 2025.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) has already thrown four bullpen sessions this offseason. Barring any setbacks, general manager Alex Anthopoulos said the team expects Strider to have a normal spring training, but they also won't rush him back. Strider will not be on the Opening Day roster. Depending on how he looks in during the spring, the 26-year-old could go on a minor-league rehab assignment early on, and he has the potential to contribute significant innings for the Braves and fantasy managers, barring any setbacks along the way. He broke out with a league-high 20 wins as an All-Star for the first time in 2023 but threw only nine innings in 2024 before undergoing an internal-brace procedure. Strider also had Tommy John surgery in 2019, so he'll carry a high amount of risk going into the 2025 season.