Apr 16, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images While Spencer Strider and Ranger Suarez both got a late start to the season, they have experienced varying results thus far.
Strider aims for his first win of the campaign Tuesday when the Atlanta Braves open a three-game road series against Suarez and the Philadelphia Phillies.
After missing more than a full year due to elbow reconstruction surgery, Strider (0-2, 5.79 ERA) made his 2025 debut April 16. However, he strained his hamstring in that contest and missed more than a month before returning on May 20 against the Washington Nationals.
The right-hander lasted only 4 1/3 innings in that contest, allowing four runs and six hits in a 5-3 defeat.
“Didn’t give us a chance to win the game, really,” Strider said. “Didn’t execute, stuff wasn’t consistent. … Not acceptable for me.”
Strider is 8-0 with a 2.06 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against the Phillies during the regular season. However, he has faced Philadelphia in all three of his career postseason starts and is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in those matchups.
Meanwhile, Suarez (3-0, 3.70) dealt with a back issue that kept him sidelined until early May. He struggled in his season debut but has since allowed just three runs in 20 2/3 innings over his last three starts.
The lefty held the Colorado Rockies scoreless over 6 2/3 innings last Thursday, throwing a season-high 99 pitches in a 2-0 triumph.
“I felt good,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “Especially in this environment, in this type of stadium, where your pitches may not do the same that they usually do movement-wise, but the cutter was working well.”
Suarez is 2-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 19 career games (10 starts) against Atlanta.
The Braves have lost four of their past five games, including a 5-3 setback against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled and walked for Atlanta after hitting a home run in each of his first two games this season.
“It’s been over a year since I’ve played three or four games in a row, but I’m feeling good,” said Acuna, who tore his ACL one year ago — on May 26, 2024.
Matt Olson went 0-for-4 on Sunday and finished the series 1-for-13 with a solo homer and five strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto finished his team’s weekend series against the Athletics 2-for-14 with six strikeouts.
The Phillies had won nine games in a row before falling to the Athletics 5-4 in Sunday’s finale. Trea Turner drove in three runs — including the go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning — before Matt Strahm allowed two runs in the bottom of the frame.
“We have high expectations in this clubhouse and our expectation coming into today was to sweep and we didn’t do it,” Strahm said.
This is the second series between the Phillies and Braves this season. The teams met in Atlanta in early April, when the Braves captured two of three. All three games were decided by two runs or fewer with Austin Riley recording multiple hits in all three contests.
–Field Level Media
