Fansided

4 Atlanta Braves deserving of first All-Star Game appearances

By Cody Williams

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 23: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on May 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 23: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on May 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves continue to roll as the NL East leaders and that should line up four players for their first All-Star Game appearances in 2023.

If someone told you that the Atlanta Braves would be without Max Fried and Kyle Wright for much of the first half of the season while also seeing Michael Harris II struggle immensely and weathering slumps from the likes of Austin Riley as well, you might think that the club got off to a tough start. That, of course, has not been the case.

With a win over the Mets on Tuesday night to start a three-game series against their rivals, the Braves moved to 36-24 on the season and took hold of the best record in the National League.

Some of the reasons behind that have been the usual suspects, namely guys like Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Riley, and Matt Olson mashing at the plate. But there have also been some Braves players who have been unexpected heroes and studs for the team at the start of the 2023 season. And with the All-Star Game in Seattle looming, this is a team that has several candidates who deserve to be All-Stars for the first time in their careers.

These four players in particular have done enough for the Braves this season to get that coveted All-Star nod in 2023. Whether they make it to Seattle or not remains to be seen, but they are undeniably deserving based on their performances.

Atlanta Braves: 4 players deserving of being first-time All-Stars

4. Spencer Strider should be a lock for the All-Star Game

After a dominant rookie season from Spencer Strider, there were certainly high expectations for the mustachioed flamethrower in his second season with the Braves. But what he’s done in the 2023 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular.

In 12 starts this season, Strider leads all of baseball in strikeouts with an unreal 113 already on the season in just 69.2 innings pitched. To make that more impressive, he’s doing more than just fanning opposing hitters, registering an impressive 2.97 ERA and 1.00 WHIP as well. On pace for a rare 300-strikeout season right now, Strider has legitimately been one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Of the four guys on this list of potential first-time All-Stars, Strider is the easiest lock to definitely be on his way to the Midsummer Classic. The 24-year-old has been historically good with his combination of strikeouts and overall phenomenal pitching that has anchored a Braves pitching staff that, frankly, has been devastated by injuries.

The only reason he’s a first-time All-Star is that this is just the second full MLB season of his career. But if this is just Strider getting started, the 2023 season should be the first of many All-Star Game appearances for the man with the quads of Zeus.

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