Speaking of Strider, he may be back sooner rather than later after making his Spring Training debut March 17. Strider threw nearly three shutout innings versus the Boston Red Sox, with six strikeouts in his first start since an elbow injury and surgery in early 2024.

Braves ace Spencer Strider returned to the mound Monday for the first time in almost a calendar year and threw 2⅔ perfect innings.

The Braves have a deeper rotation than most, led by Sale, Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach, a revelation last season as a rookie. But when they activate Strider from the IL, provided the others stay healthy, it has the makings of an elite unit topped by arguably the best 1-2 combination in baseball — Sale and Strider, in either order.