Spencer Strider starts strong, shows off new pitch in scoreless spring debut

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Based on what’s happened over the past two seasons, it may seem crazy to think there was debate regarding whether Spencer Strider would be best utilized as a starting pitcher or reliever.

“It’s been fun watching the development of this guy,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s been really impressive to see what he’s been able to do.”

Strider enhanced excitement about the upcoming season as he tallied four strikeouts while completing two scoreless innings in a 6-5 win over the Rays on Saturday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park. The Braves flamethrower was pitching with a purpose as he showed off his new curveball and also lit up the radar gun with an array of 99 mph fastballs during this mutual Grapefruit League season opener.

“That was a big focus for me. I wanted to come to camp in the best shape I’ve ever been in and I ever could be so that I could get honest feedback,” Strider said. “I wanted to be able to run things as close to full speed as I could.”

Strider will continue to rely on the fastball/slider mix that has proven dominant during his first couple of big league seasons, but opponents now have to be cognizant of a curveball, which he threw a few times during Saturday’s exhibition.

“As long as I am pitching off my fastball and I anticipate that [it] will be my highest-usage pitch, guys are going to have to look for it,” Strider said. “The curveball will give me a little more room to move my fastball around.”

Strider struck out four over two scoreless innings. His fastball consistently registered 98-99 mph on the scoreboard. He threw a few breaking balls that were in the low 80s. Those were the curves or re-shaped breaking balls. Whatever you want to call them.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 24, 2024

While Strider will continue to occasionally show a changeup, it’s a pitch that isn’t exactly fit for his delivery and approach. His attempt to add a third pitch led him to develop the curveball this winter. His slider consistently sits 84-85 mph, but now opponents will have to look for the curve, an 80-82 mph pitch which has a little more vertical break than the slider.

The curveball will be just another weapon for Strider, who induced an MLB-high 306 whiffs against sliders (including slurves and sweepers) last year. Dylan Cease ranked second with 269 whiffs, while no other pitcher had more than 204.

Now opponents have to be prepared for another breaking ball.

“That’s a real curveball too,” Snitker said. “I had a hard time telling the difference between [the curve and slider] a couple times. That was kind of nice for him to be able to throw it against another team, too.”

Saying Strider produced a MLB-high 483 strikeouts since the start of the 2022 season is providing just a glimpse of his accomplishment. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole ranks second with 479, but Cole threw 91 1/3 more innings than Strider during this span.