Braves manager Walt Weiss dropped a heavy dose of uncertainty this week when asked if star pitchers Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach were done for the season, telling MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, “But sitting here today, it’s hard to say.” That’s a gut punch for a team already dealing with an absolute nightmare of pitching injuries all season long, an issue that’s been haunting them since last year. Even with all that chaos, somehow, they’re still clinging to first place in the NL East. Wild, right?
The Early Warning Signs for Schwellenbach
The alarm bells for this pitching staff were ringing long before the regular season even kicked off. Spencer Schwellenbach was dealing with an injury when camp opened, and it hasn’t gotten any better. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the talented young righty got slapped on the 60-day injured list because of inflammation in his right elbow. The hope? That it’s just bone spurs and nothing “more nefarious,” as MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams put it. Seriously, you never want to hear “more nefarious” when talking about a pitcher’s elbow. It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Schwellenbach, especially after he had such a strong 2025 season. The guy was looking good, and now this.
Strider’s Relentless Battle Back to the Mound
Then there’s Spencer Strider. This dude can’t catch a break. He started the season on the injured list, worked his butt off to get back, and then immediately suffered *another* setback. USA Today’s Kristie Ackert reported Strider got shut down from throwing for four weeks after seeing Dr. Keith Meister. He’s got another MRI coming up, and if that scan is clean, *then* he can start throwing again. The good news, if you can call it that, is that a Saturday MRI in Atlanta showed only inflammation and no ligament damage. Relief, maybe, but still, four weeks sidelined from throwing? That’s a lifetime when you’re trying to stay healthy. Strider has been pushing hard to return to full strength, but staying on the field has been a brutal challenge for him. Both guys are clearly frustrated, but their long-term health has to be the absolute top priority. You can’t rush these things, no matter how badly you need them on the mound.
This whole situation for the Braves is just brutal, and Weiss’s comments sure didn’t make anyone feel better. With so much uncertainty swirling around two key arms, it’s crystal clear what the Braves have to do next. Based on this latest update, it’s more critical than ever for them to go out and snag some additional starting pitching before the trade deadline hits. Their season might just depend on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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