As MLB’s Opening Day draws near, the excitement is palpable. Teams are beginning to unveil their starting pitchers, and the Atlanta Braves have made a decision that comes as no surprise. The ball will be entrusted to the talented 25-year-old Spencer Strider. Strider has consistently proven himself as one of the league’s best since his debut in the big leagues.
Spencer Strider Named Braves’ Opening Day Starter
Strider is Already in Midseason Form
Strider has thrown 18.2 innings in this year’s spring training. Over those 18.2 innings, Strider has been one of the most dominant pitchers. He’s allowed 11 hits and struck out 29 batters while posting a 0.00 ERA. The Braves head to Philadelphia for opening weekend to face the team that ended their 2023 campaign. This is a highly anticipated rematch where Strider and Zack Wheeler will go toe to toe. The Braves and Phillies will be playing the long game, meaning both starters will likely be on a limited pitch restriction.
2023 Advanced Rankings
As you can see in the above image from baseball savant, Spencer Strider clearly dominated hitters in 2o23. It takes an elite pitcher to be in the 90th percentile of this many advanced analytical categories. Not all of these categories have a direct correlation to success. However, stats like xERA, chase%, and k% do have a direct correlation almost always. The only thing that stands out to me is his barrel% which is actually 43rd percentile. This means that hitters are making solid contact slightly more than they should be. If he can improve upon this in 2024, the NL Cy Young could easily be his.
2024 Projections
After finishing in the top five in the NL CY Young voting in 2023, Strider is looking to build upon yet another dominant season. According to Fangraphs, he projects to be the league leader in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Which would almost certainly win him the NL CY Young Award. Another set of projections for Strider comes from Baseball Reference. Baseball Reference has Strider with a 15-6 record, 226 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.69.
Main Photo Credits: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
