Strider (hamstring) will 'do everything humanly possible' to return ASAP

ATLANTA -- Spencer Strider gained encouraging news when an MRI exam showed he is not dealing with a significant right hamstring injury. But one week after completing his year-long recovery from elbow surgery, the Braves pitcher must mentally deal with another stretch of inactivity.

“It sucks,” Strider said. “I have done absolutely nothing to help this team and this organization for the past year. I finally got to a point where I could earn my paycheck and help us win games, and now I’m back on a table while they wave machines over me.”

Instead of watching Strider make his scheduled start on Tuesday night, the Braves unsuccessfully navigated their way through a bullpen game and bid adieu to a four-game winning streak with a 10-4 loss to the Cardinals.

Strider’s incredible focus on exercise and nutrition helped him as he spent the past year recovering from right elbow surgery. The attention to detail he shows while lifting, stretching, eating and hydrating is aimed toward avoiding injuries like the one he suffered Monday, when he was simply playing catch from a distance of 75 feet at Truist Park.

“I was throwing at a very low effort,” Strider said. “I made a throw and felt it kind of sting and thought, ‘That was weird.’ I wasn’t really sure where it came from. Then I made another throw and felt a pull on my backside and then I walked right off [the field].”

Strider’s MRI exam showed a Grade 1 strain, which is the least significant of the three grades. He was still feeling sore on Tuesday. His progress over the next few days and weeks will provide a clearer picture of when he could return.

“Everybody is different as far as how long it takes them, but I think this was the best possible outcome,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Going back to last April, when his right ulnar collateral ligament was repaired with the insertion of an internal brace, Strider has worn a Motus compression sleeve, which monitors different aspects of a throwing motion. The data will give him and the Braves' medical staff a good feel for where his arm strength stands once he’s cleared to begin throwing off a mound again.

Strider started two Spring Training games and then made three rehab starts for Triple-A Gwinnett before he was activated to make his season debut in Toronto on April 16. He threw 97 pitches while limiting the Blue Jays to two runs over five innings. All indications were he would be at full strength entering Tuesday’s scheduled start against the Cardinals.

“I don’t have any explanation for it,” Strider said. “I've spent a lot of time thinking of one. The only thing I can really come up with is you become deconditioned to pitching. I hadn’t pitched in over a year. The body likes routine, and pitching is a very aggressive, taxing movement and I just hadn’t done it in a while. Why it didn't happen in my bullpen or when I was throwing 400 feet the other day, I don't have any clue.”

Each of Atlanta’s current rotation members can make their next start with an extra day of rest through Sunday.

Bryce Elder could come back on regular rest to start Monday’s series opener at Coors Field. The Braves would also have the option of recalling AJ Smith-Shawver at some point next week.

“I will do everything humanly possible to get back out there as soon as I can,” Strider said.