Spencer Strider is back on the mound for the Atlanta Braves, and he’s bringing the fire with him. In a high-stakes clash against the New York Mets, Strider delivered a solid performance and stirred the pot with a charged exchange directed at Juan Soto. With the Braves and Mets both scrapping for a Wild Card spot in the NL East under the shadow of a dominant Phillies team, every game matters.
The Braves clawed their way to a 7-4 victory, with Strider working through five innings, surrendering three runs on a pair of hits, and issuing three walks. But the real showstopper of his outing? Eight strikeouts, including a big one against Juan Soto.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Soto found himself at the plate with two outs and the bases clear. Having been walked in his previous two at-bats, Soto squared off against Strider with a full count. Strider hurled a 96 mph heater that barely kissed the bottom left corner of the strike zone. Soto didn’t agree with the strike call from home plate umpire Adam Hamari and made his discontent known.
Strider, unfazed, let Soto hear it, asserting, “It’s right down the middle.” He didn’t just settle for once; he reiterated his point three times as Soto reluctantly walked away.
This kind of intensity is what makes Strider a fan favorite in Atlanta. Having significant playoff experience under his belt as an All-Star, his return gives the Braves a crucial boost. With Ronald Acuna Jr. also back in the playoff picture, optimism in the Braves’ camp is on the rise. However, they’re facing a tough road, sitting 9.5 games adrift of the Phillies at the top of the division and four games shy of the .500 mark.
Spencer Strider is now sporting a 3-5 record with an ERA of 4.07, racking up 53 strikeouts over 42 innings. As they stand, the Braves are currently slotted in at No. 23 on the week 13 MLB power rankings. While the road ahead is steep, performances like Strider’s offer a glimpse of the grit the Braves need to climb the ladder.
