Braves' Spencer Strider has damage to his UCL

The Atlanta Braves announced Saturday that star right-hander Spencer Strider has ligament damage to his pitching elbow and will undergo further evaluation in the coming days.

Strider left his Friday start against the Arizona Diamondbacks after four innings due to elbow discomfort.

Strider will be evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, at a date yet to be determined, the team said.

Strider, who finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting last season, led the majors with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings. In his first two starts this year, however, he has gone just nine total innings, and his velocity has been down a few miles per hour. He struck out four and walked three on Friday.

Snitker said Friday he didn't realize Strider was hurt initially.

"I thought it was just one of those nights, (but) he came in and he was complaining about his elbow, so he's going to get an MRI in the morning and find out what's going on," Snitker said following the Braves' 6-5, 10-inning win.

In his two starts, Strider has an ERA of 7.00, more than double his career mark of 3.47.

Strider underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in 2019 while at Clemson, and a second such procedure would likely sideline him for at least a year.

--Field Level Media