Braves' Pitcher Spencer Strider Breaks Franchise Strikeout Record, Leads Team to Victory

Spencer Strider, the pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, has been making waves in the baseball world. After each start, he meticulously records his thoughts on his outing in a Google doc. He also summarizes how he pitched each month. Strider underwent Tommy John surgery and completely overhauled his mental and physical approach to the game. This transformation has paid off, as he has become the Braves' ace. In a recent game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Strider sought redemption in the National League Division Series (NLDS) sequel. He pitched an impressive game, going 7 innings and allowing only 2 runs (1 earned run) with 8 strikeouts. Strider clearly wanted to stay in the game, as he threw 94 pitches, 63 of which were strikes. Strider's performance in this game was historic for the Braves. He recorded his 277th strikeout of the season, surpassing John Smoltz's franchise record set in 1996. This achievement also set a new Braves single-season record for strikeouts. Strider's expression after breaking the record showed his frustration at the end of a challenging first inning, where he threw 36 pitches and allowed 3 runs. Despite the rough start, Strider has consistently performed well throughout the season. He has never had fewer than 3 strikeouts in an MLB start and has recorded 11 double-digit strikeout games, just one shy of tying Smoltz's record from '96. Strider's success has helped the Braves come back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Washington Nationals, securing their 104th win of the season. This victory also marked Strider's 20th win, making him the only 20-game winner in the MLB for the second consecutive year. Ronald Acuña Jr. also made history by breaking the franchise steals record. Overall, Strider's journey from Tommy John surgery to becoming the Braves' ace has been remarkable. His record-breaking performance and consistent success have solidified his position as one of baseball's best pitchers.