Spencer Strider's promising rest-of-season outlook
Christopher Crawford explains how Atlanta Braves P Spencer Strider has become a viable fantasy option even if there is much to be desired.
Video Transcript
CHRIS CRAWFORD: Spencer Strider was not expected to be a major part of the Atlanta pitching staff to begin the season, but he's not only been just that, he's become a viable fantasy option as well. Strider made a pair of starts last week and he went 5 and 2/3 innings in both of those outings, while allowing just 2 runs, both on Wednesday, and striking out 19 hitters over those 11 and 1/3 frames. That lowers his ERA on the season to 2.45, but the metric suggests that the 23-year-old has been even better than that.
Much of that has to do with the fact that he's striking out 38.6% of the hitters he's facing with a fastball slider combination that all but the elite hurlers in baseball would gladly trade for. There are a couple of things here that should give fantasy managers some caution. His command is nowhere near as good as his [? step, ?] with a base on ball percentage in the bottom 13%.
He also isn't going to get very deep into games, as he is yet to record six innings in any of his outings. All that being said, Strider has been impressive. The long-term fantasy potential is obvious, but it's easy to see him having success for the remainder of 2022, as long as he's working as a starter.
