Club left to hope for best with ace

Braves expect MRI to provide clues to Strider’s elbow ailment.

Braves fans were holding their collective breath Saturday, awaiting word on the results of a scheduled MRI on ace Spencer Strider’s elbow.

Strider experienced right elbow discomfort during his start Friday night and was to undergo an MRI exam on Saturday, manager Brian Snitker said. As of mid-afternoon, the team had not revealed the results.

Strider allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings against the Diamondbacks. It’s just the sixth time in 54 career starts that he allowed that many runs in four innings or less and his velocity was noticeably down.

“I thought it was one of those nights, then he came in and was complaining about his elbow, so he’s going to get an MRI (Saturday) and we’ll find out what’s going on,” Snitker said.

Asked for further clarification on what Strider experienced, Snitker said: “I just know he’s going to have it checked out. He was uncomfortable with how it was feeling. They examined him here and they’re going to get an MRI done.”

Strider wasn’t available to speak with reporters following the Braves’ 6-5 victory at Truist Park.

Strider’s fastball averaged 95.9 mph Friday, down from his 96.7 average from his opening-day outing at Philadelphia. He topped out at 98.3 mph after peaking at 99 mph in his previous start. Strider’s 95.9 mph average Friday was 1.8 mph below his career average and tied for the lowest velocity in his career.

Strider, 25, is perhaps baseball’s best strikeout artist and one of the top pitchers in the sport. He entered the season as a favorite for the National League Cy Young award. The Braves have some injury concerns in their rotation already, given Max Fried’s and Chris Sale’s recent history, and losing Strider for any amount of time would be a blow.

Ace starter Spencer Strider struggled Friday with discomfort in his right elbow.