MLB Not Confident in Remaining Braves Rotation

Without Spencer Strider, the Braves rotation is left in a tough spot.

Mar 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

When Spencer Strider injured his elbow earlier this month, the Atlanta Braves starting rotation was left in a rough spot.

This was confirmed by the latest starting pitcher power rankings from MLB.com that came out on Wednesday. 23 pitchers were listed in these rankings and not one of them was an Atlanta Brave.

Strider's absence from the list is a noticeable one, as it was him who sat at the top of the rankings on Opening Day.

Corbin Burnes of the Baltimore Orioles has taken over the pole position. Through three starts and 18.2 innings pitched, Burnes has two wins, a 1.93 ERA, 20 strikeouts to two walks and a WHIP of 0.75.

MLB.com's take on Burnes: With Strider out, Burnes moves up a notch to No. 1. Baltimore’s offseason trade acquisition has come absolutely as advertised, with a 1.93 ERA and 20-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio through three Orioles starts. This team went out and got Burnes to be the missing piece for a World Series champion, and so far, so good. Baltimore is 3-0 in his starts.

Two of the pitchers on the list are members of National League East clubs: Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies checked in at No. 2 and Sean Manaea of the New York Mets came in at No. 19.

Wheeler has a 1.89 ERA and 19 innings pitched through three starts. He also has 20 strikeouts to two walks and a 0.89 WHIP.

The Braves' rotation, currently made up of Max Fried, Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, Reynaldo Lopez and a revolving cast of fill-ins in the #5 spot (for now) will be looking for someone to step up.