There are occupations reserved for only the bravest, due to the amount of danger involved: fire fighter, soldier, trapeze artist, dental hygienist at an alligator farm. It may be time to add “Braves starting pitcher” to that list. Today the team’s ace, Spencer Strider, one of the best yo ung righthanders in the game, was scratched from his scheduled final exhibition tune-up against the Pirates and placed on the injured list with an oblique strain. He was slated to start the Braves’ third game of the season against the Royals. This is yet another bite from the injury bug for Strider, and what is looking like an epidemic for the Braves, in a year that started with high expectations. Strider burst onto the scene in 2023, going 20-5 with a league-best 281 strikeouts. Since then, his journey has been filled with trips to the IL: elbow surgery cost him virtually all of the 2024 season, and a “freak” hamstring strain last year cost him more than a month of the season. Strider’s injury is the second to the team’s starting rotation since Spring Training began, as Spencer Schwellenbach was shelved until at least June with bone spurs in his pitching elbow. Another starter, A.J. Smith-Shawver, has been out since last June with Tommy John surgery. Strider will likely be placed on the 15-day IL, but oblique strains can linger. Either way, this paints a grim picture for the Phillies’ division rival, at least in the near term. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less