Spencer Strider’s near no-no must have lit a fire for rest of Braves pitchers

Spencer Strider nearly threw a no-hitter for the Atlanta Braves and has lit a fire under the rotation to kick it up a gear.

Spencer Strider took a no-hitter to the eighth inning, ruined by a Jean Segura single on Tuesday night. Despite missing out on the historic achievement, the Atlanta Braves got the win and Strider put forth his most dominant outing yet. That’s what really matters!

And even though he didn’t get the no-no, the impacts of such a performance can often help a team play their best ball in more ways than one. When you see one guy playing his rear-end off to deliver wins, it motivates everyone else to show up and bring their best work. Internally, most professional athletes don’t want to be outdone, even by their own teammates.

It looks like Strider’s performance earlier this week has already done that, based on how Charlie Morton pitched the very next night.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Morton clearly gunning for Spencer Strider

Right after a near no-no from Strider on Monday, Tuesday only brought a nine-strikeout performance from Charlie Morton. The Bally account cheekily said Morton was gunning for Strider, trying to knock off his Atlanta franchise record of 16 strikeouts in a single game.

Morton wouldn’t get to that pesky No. 10, but it was still a great performance that led the Braves get a 7-4 win. Morton also logged his third win of the season, improving his record to 3-2.

Part of Morton’s success came from using his cutter. Morton threw that pitch five times on Tuesday night, he had only thrown that pitch seven times in total in his other four starts combined. He previously had given up a triple on the pitch, but it was smooth sailing on Tuesday. It went in for two balls, two called strikes, and one foul ball.

His mixing in that pitch says a lot about his confidence.

A rising tide lifts all boats, as they say. After the last two starts, Bryce Elder has his work cut out for him on Wednesday night.