MLB Betting: Are the Braves Still a Threat to Win the NL Without Spencer Strider?

The Braves suffered one of the biggest injuries of early in the 2024 MLB season. Young ace Spencer Strider struggled in the team’s home opener, and an MRI revealed an injury to his UCL. Atlanta hasn’t made any official announcement on Strider’s status, but the expectation is he will miss the entire year.

Below, we’ll break down how this injury changes the Braves as well as the NL race. We’ll share their new odds, along with insights from our USA Legal Betting experts.

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While the Braves have yet to confirm Strider’s status, some bookmakers have already adjusted their future odds. Here are the latest from some of the top betting sites:

While Atlanta has not announced how long Strider will be out, we know the MRI showed an injury to his UCL. That kind of injury usually requires Tommy John surgery to be completely fixed. The surgery would keep Strider out for at least the remainder of the season. On top of that, it is his second in the last five years.

There is a chance he could choose to rehab the injury instead of opting for surgery, but the issue is unlikely to go away. That means even if he can return at some point this season, he’s unlikely to be the same ace he was.

As good as the Atlanta lineup is, they do not have the pitching depth to cover for the loss of Strider. Max Fried can take over the top spot in the rotation, despite a bad start to the season. The problem is the rest of the rotation.

Chris Sale has been solid over his first two starts, but injuries and inconsistency have plagued the veteran over the last few seasons. Then there is 40-year-old Charlie Morton and spot starter Reynaldo Lopez. Morton could deliver another solid season, but it’s hard to rely on any of these three to step up as the team’s number two starter.

The x-factor in all of this is Bryce Elder. The 24-year-old was an All-Star in 2023, but he regressed in the second half of the season, raising his ERA from 2.45 on July 3 to 3.81 by the end of the season. He was also shelled by the Phillies during the postseason. Those struggles carried over to Spring Training, leading to Elder starting the season in AAA.

The good news is the Elder has looked sharp through two minor league starts. If he can figure things out and recapture some of the magic from 2023, it could end up saving the Braves’ rotation.