Braves' Strider Works on Breaking Pitches in Fourth GFL Start

Pitcher says "everything's trending in a really good direction" as he continues to develop offspeed offerings.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider threw four innings and 61 pitches in a Grapefruit League game against the Rays on Wednesday, giving up a walk and two hits while striking out five batters. Strider focused on improving his breaking pitches, getting two strikeouts on sliders and two on curveballs, while only using his fastball 27 times and topping out at 96.5 mph.

Why it matters

Strider is a key part of the Braves' starting rotation, and his continued development of his offspeed pitches will be crucial to his success in the upcoming season. The Braves are hoping Strider can build on his strong 2025 campaign and solidify himself as one of the top young pitchers in the league.

The details

In his fourth Grapefruit League start, Strider threw four scoreless innings, striking out five batters. He got two strikeouts on sliders and two on curveballs, while only using his fastball 27 times and topping out at 96.5 mph. Strider said "everything's trending in a really good direction" as he continues to work on improving his breaking pitches.

  • Strider threw four innings and 61 pitches on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Spencer Strider

A starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves who is working to develop his offspeed pitches during spring training.

Atlanta Braves

The Major League Baseball team that Strider plays for, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“Everything's trending in a really good direction”

— Spencer Strider (AJC.com)

What’s next

Strider will continue to work on his breaking pitches in his remaining Grapefruit League starts before the regular season begins.

The takeaway

Strider's development of his offspeed offerings will be crucial for the Braves this season, as they look to him to build on his strong 2025 campaign and solidify himself as one of the top young pitchers in the league.