Atlanta Braves: How Spencer Strider could make MLB history this year

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider is not only putting together a season that could land him National League Rookie of the Year honors, but could earn him a place in MLB history as well.

Spencer Strider has been one of the arms leading the Atlanta Braves this season as the franchise prepares to defend its World Series crown. With a 2.67 ERA/1.83 FIP/0.995 WHIP, the 23-year-old right-hander has been dominant at times this season, including earlier in the year when he set a Braves record by striking out 16 Colorado Rockies in a Sept. 1 start that lasted eight innings.

While Strider may be temporarily sidelined with a sore oblique, he is putting together a season unlikely any other in MLB history.

Yes, you read that statistic correctly. Strider has allowed just 86 hits over his 131.2 innings on the mound while striking out 202 batters.

Braves: Spencer Strider can do something no other MLB pitcher has ever done

Depending on when Strider returns (which the Braves seem to think will be before the end of the month, when a pivotal series against the New York Mets begins on September 30 as the two teams battle for supremacy in the National League East), Strider could well make history, given the potential low number of starts and innings that could be in the cards for him as Atlanta prepares for the postseason.

Braves manager Brian Snitker has already said that he doesn’t intend for Strider, in his first full MLB season, to have an innings limit as the regular season comes to a close. However, with the Braves uncertain of winning the NL East or having to settle for a Wild Card spot, Strider’s amount of time on the mound down the stretch could be dictated by whether the Braves will need him in a Wild Card game or not.

In only one of his 20 starts this season has Strider allowed more than six hits, meaning he could well have his sights set on making MLB history on the mound as well as leading the Braves back to the postseason.