Spencer Strider looked solid in his first start back since an April 2024 surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Strider pitched five innings, gave up five hits, one walk, struck out five, surrendered two runs, and one one of those runs came from a solo home run that he gave up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Now, even though the Braves’ hard throwing right hander only completed five innings he did throw 12 pitches into the sixth inning, and that’s where The Morning Shift thinks Braves’ Manager went wrong.
“This is ridiculous that we are talking about Brian Snitker trotting out what you hope is the ace of your staff coming off elbow surgery for a sixth inning after he has 90 pitches already in the bank to face the best player in Toronto’s lineup.” Mike Johnson said
In that sixth inning is when Guerrero Jr. hit that home run off of Strider too, so to Mike’s point with Strider’s pitch count where it was in his first start and that being Strider’s third time facing Guerrero Jr. that day it probably wasn’t the best idea to send Strider out for the sixth inning not only for the sake of the game, but also for the sake of Strider’s health and wanting to make sure he doesn’t get pushed too far in his first start back.
Sam Crenshaw agreed with Mike and said he would have pulled Strider after the fifth if he was Snitker because it is a long season, and “he’s got a lot more starts coming up”.
Health wise Strider felt fine after first start, so no harm no foul there, but despite the Braves desperately needing wins Spencer Strider is the face of the Braves’ pitching staff and team right now and for hopefully the next decade plus, and it just felt like Brian Snitker and pitching coach Rick Kranitz should’ve maybe exercised a little more caution in Strider’s first start back.