Braves Make Spencer Strider Decision Before Tigers Game

The Atlanta Braves announced before Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers that pitcher Spencer Strider will not be activated from the injured list and will instead continue his rehab assignment.

Despite three strong rehab starts, Strider's minor league rehab assignment will continue this week, and he is not expected to be activated for a start in Colorado this weekend, per Lindsay Crosby of Braves Today.

The news is a blow to a fanbase that was expecting his return to come sometime this week. The 27-year-old has been out since suffering a left oblique strain during a Minor League game during spring training camp on March 17.

NEWS: Spencer Strider's minor league rehab will continue this week and as of Tuesday morning, he is NOT expected to be activated for a start in Colorado this weekend, per source pic.twitter.com/6ef0a28obv

— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) April 28, 2026

His three rehab starts have offered little to suggest that his delay is anything performance-related. He made his first rehab start on April 16 with High-A Rome, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts on 50 pitches. He then got sent to Triple-A Gwinnett, striking out eight batters in 4 1/3 scoreless innings of work. In his latest start on Sunday, he threw five innings with seven strikeouts while giving up two runs on four hits.

The Braves are being cautious with a pitcher who has spent a lot of time in the last few seasons working his way back from injury. Strider underwent season-ending elbow surgery in April 2024 and did not return until last season, when he went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA over 23 starts. It was a big difference from his 2023 All-Star campaign, where he went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and led MLB with 281 strikeouts, setting a new Braves franchise record.

The question of his velocity following his 2025 season appears to be trending in the right direction. His fastball averaged 95.5 mph last season, down from 97.2 mph in 2023, and opposing batters posted an average exit velocity of 91.3 mph against him, the highest mark of his career per Baseball Savant. In his most recent rehab start, his four-seamer touched 96.9 mph, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, a promising sign for a pitcher still building back toward full strength.

Atlanta is currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in MLB at 20-9. The rotation has held without him, but injuries have forced the club to make plenty of roster moves to do so. Getting Strider back would instantly boost the rotation. Before then, the team is giving Strider extra looks in the minors before facing MLB hitters right out of the gate.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 4:35 PM.