Spencer Strider Activated as Braves Add Rotation Boost

spencer strider is back on the Atlanta Braves roster and set for his season debut on Sunday after the club activated him from the injured list. The move gives the Braves another right-hander at a time when they entered the day with baseball’s best record at 24-10.

Braves Shuffle the Pitching Staff

To open a spot, the Braves optioned right-hander Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Gwinnett after Saturday’s game. Strider had been sidelined with a strained oblique, leaving Atlanta to wait through the early part of the schedule before getting him into a game.

The activation landed on the same day the Braves turned to another roster move. They selected outfielder José Azócar’s contract from the minor league club after placing Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring.

Acuña Leaves in the Second Inning

Acuña went down Saturday night in the second inning when he tried to run out a ground ball, pulled up about halfway down the base path and grabbed at his hamstring. The Braves already had seen him play in all 34 games after he returned from the torn ACL that cut into his 2024 season.

That makes the roster shift sharper for Atlanta than a simple pitching swap. Strider’s return adds back a starter after an oblique injury, while Acuña’s move removes one of the lineup’s most durable early-season pieces and sends the Braves into Sunday with another hole to cover.

For a club sitting at 24-10, the immediate test is keeping the rotation and lineup intact while Strider gets back on the mound. If he handles his season debut cleanly, Atlanta can absorb the loss of Acuña for now without losing much ground in a crowded first month.