Spencer Strider was meant to have his big break on NASCAR’s most famous circuit. But wait, the news from the Atlanta Braves says he will miss the MLB Speedway Classic. The reason? Well, not an injury.

Actually, a rain delay of more than an hour turned a glamorous opening into a logistical headache. Strider had already warmed up, but the game was delayed by rain for over two hours. So, the Braves made the decision to scratch their ace from the start because of the significant risk of injury associated with re-warming up after a lengthy cooling period.

Coming off his second elbow surgery, the Braves were being extremely cautious with Strider, not wanting to put his arm through the stress of going from a warmed-up state to cold, and then back to being fully loose again.

“Confirmed that Strider won’t pitch tonight,” Mark Bowman, an MLB insider, posted on X.

The timing couldn’t be more frustrating for Strider; earlier this season, he had his 500th career strikeout. And Atlanta was excited to see him pitch in the game on Saturday.

He currently has a 5–8 record, a 3.71 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts in 14 starts this season. Since mid-June, his ERA has been 2.95, and he has recorded 12.27 K/9 in six games.

But if not Spencer Strider, then who will pitch for the Braves at the Speedway Classic? Bowman dropped an update regarding that as well: “Austin Cox will start for the Braves tonight.” Cox has pitched eight innings this season, with a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over six games. He has struck out 11 batters, with a 12.4 K/9 and an exceptional 11.0 K/BB ratio.

But hey, after Spencer Strider was pulled out, the game was later suspended.

Speedway Classic opener postponed at Bristol

The much-hyped Day 1 of the MLB Speedway Classic turned out to be a rain-curtailed affair. After a 2-hour, 17-minute delay and only four outs in the bottom of the first, play was stopped with Cincinnati ahead 1-0. This was the most anticipated regular-season game in Tennessee history. 85,000 fans were expected to attend, but the rain caused chaos.

Long lines snaked around empty grills, supplies ran out, and several people departed empty-handed after waiting more than an hour. Fans were left frustrated with no snacks, no booze, just disappointment. It didn’t feel like a ballgame at all. It felt more like surviving after a run. The rain kept players off the field, and the shattered concessions made it feel like a sprint.

The game has now moved to 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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