Braves' Spencer Strider Placed on IL With Oblique Injury

The Atlanta Braves placed rookie pitching sensation Spencer Strider on the 15-day injured list Saturday.

The team announced Strider is dealing with a strained left oblique muscle and noted that the IL stint is retroactive to Sept. 21, meaning he will be eligible to return Oct. 5, which is the Braves' final game of the regular season.

Strider is the National League Rookie of the Year frontrunner with an 11-5 record, 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 202 strikeouts over 131.2 innings in 31 appearances and 20 starts.

Despite his status as a 23-year-old rookie, Strider leads MLB with 13.81 strikeouts per nine innings pitched this season. Among pitchers who have started at least three games this season, Nick Lodolo of the Cincinnati Reds is closest to Strider, and he is more than two full strikeouts per nine innings behind.

While Strider was dominant as a reliever before getting moved to the starting rotation, he hasn't missed a beat in that role, going 10-4 with a 2.77 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 107.1 innings.

Strider's injury comes at a less-than-ideal time for the Braves, as they are trying to chase down the New York Mets for the NL East lead and prepare for the playoffs.

Entering play Saturday, the Braves are 93-58 and trail the Mets by 2.5 games for the NL East lead, although they have already clinched at least a wild-card spot.

Even with Strider on the shelf, the defending World Series champions boast a strong rotation led by a pair of Cy Young candidates in Kyle Wright and Max Fried, along with veterans Charlie Morton and Jake Odorizzi.

Atlanta also has one of the most potent lineups in baseball, headlined by Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Dansby Swanson and Michael Harris.

It is unclear if Strider will need more than the minimum IL time to heal, but if he does return by the end of his IL stint, he will be back in time for the start of the playoffs.

The Braves have the depth and talent to thrive without Strider, but his elite stuff gives Atlanta a huge advantage when he is on the mound, and his presence would give the Braves a far better chance at repeating as World Series champs.