Fansided

MLB Rumors: Bryce Harper punishment, Braves history, Tim Anderson lip-reading

By Mark Powell

DENVER, CO - MAY 14: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up before batting in the first inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 14, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MAY 14: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up before batting in the first inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 14, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Apr 24, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Rumors: Could Braves ace Spencer Strider make history?

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider has been one of the best hurlers in baseball so far this season. While the year is young, Strider is on pace to reach a strikeouts-per-nine innings mark that no pitcher has averaged over the course of an entire season.

Strider, at 15.9 K/9 after Friday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays, leads baseball. No MLB player has ever averaged over 15 K/9 over the course of a full season. Strider, with some of the most electric stuff in all of baseball, has the pitch arsenal to make it happen.

“I felt great,” Strider said after his last start. “I could have kept going if I could have kept getting outs. It’s my job to be out there until they take the ball away. So as long as they let me pitch, I’ll pitch.”

Strider arguably pitched his best game of the season in a defeat. The right-handed pitcher recorded 32 swings and misses, which beats his previous high of 31 from earlier this season. His slider, in particular, was impossible to hit, as the Blue Jays whiffed 16 times on that pitch alone.

“The slider is something I felt like I made great improvement with during the last outing, and I was glad to carry it over tonight,” Strider said. “But you know, I probably should have thrown one more.”

Somehow, Strider is finding ways to one-up himself.

Home/MLB Rumors