ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider strained his right hamstring Monday while playing catch and was put on the 15-day injured list.
Atlanta made the move retroactive to Friday, two days after Strider returned from elbow surgery and made his first big league appearance since April 5, 2024. Strider gave up two runs over five innings in a 3-1 loss at Toronto, and the 26-year-old right-hander was slated to make his home season debut Tuesday against St. Louis.
With Strider sidelined, the Braves will go with a bullpen game against the Cardinals. Manager Brian Snitker said they would decide on an opener on the day of the game.
Braves third baseman Austin Riley said he was hoping Strider's injury was a minor one.
"I hate it for the guy with everything that he's been through," Riley said after Monday night's 7-6 victory over St. Louis. "[With] everything that he's been through, an arm injury and being out that long, that's hard on the mental side of it, just grinding that long and finally getting back. I thought his start the other day was really good."
Strider made only two starts in 2024 before UCL internal brace surgery on April 12. Strider finished fourth in 2023 NL Cy Young Award voting and was an All-Star, going 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and a league-best 281 strikeouts.
Atlanta recalled right-hander Michael Petersen from Triple-A Gwinnett. Petersen pitched two scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on April 13.
The Braves' rotation also is without right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who underwent arthroscopic surgery April 8 after one start. He will be out at least three months.
