Braves lefty Kolby Allard has been shut down after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain, per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link). He’ll begin the season on the injured list.
There’s no specific timetable for Allard to return just yet, but even Grade 1 strains can lead to a month-long absence at times. Every injury is different, of course, but for some recent context, Rays righty Tyler Glasnow was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain earlier this month and received a timetable of six to eight weeks.
Allard wasn’t expected to open the season in the Atlanta rotation, but he’s on the 40-man roster and has been sharp in limited spring innings thus far, allowing a run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts through five innings.
The 25-year-old Allard was the No. 14 overall pick by the Braves back in 2015 but was traded to the Rangers in a 2019 deadline swap that brought righty Chris Martin to Atlanta. The Braves reacquired him in the offseason trade that sent veteran right-hander Jake Odorizzi back to Texas (with Atlanta covering $10MM of Odorizzi’s $12.5MM salary). Allard has a career 3.73 ERA in 316 1/3 innings of Triple-A ball, but he’s been hit hard in parts of five MLB seasons, recording a 6.07 ERA in 232 2/3 frames.
The Braves’ rotation again looks quite strong, led by Cy Young runner-up Max Fried. He’s followed by Charlie Morton, Kyle Wright and Rookie of the Year runner-up Spencer Strider. Candidates for the fifth spot include righties Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder and Mike Soroka. Two of those three will likely join Allard (once healthy) in serving as rotation depth with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Need analysis on this injury.
It’s gotten ridiculous.
It’s a grade 2, way different than a mere grade 1.
If I had a dollar for every oblique injury that’s happened in spring training so far…
Allard was always a long shot for the 5th spot. Ian Anderson seems to have that locked up with Soroka also dealing with an injury.
Not necessarily Bryce Elder might just take that spot and Dylan Dodd and Jared Shuster could jump him as well. Ian Anderson has lost a ton of Velo since 2021 and his command isn’t there.
Elder hasn’t had a great spring so far but I could see him making the team if he rights the ship in time.
Nooooooooooo!
Yes, he was a long shot for the 5th starter job, but he was also looking pretty good to at least get an extended look as a multi-inning arm out of the bullpen.
With the Braesv possibly skipping Wright the first time around, Allard could have at least served as a serviceable opener for his game.
Now, it looks like it is going to be Chavez’s role moving forward, but he’s also got to start to turn things around if he wants to make the opening day roster. He’s been hit pretty hard, pretty often this spring..
If it isn’t Chavez, that role could go to one of the younger rookie starters who were originally set to start the season in AAA like Dylan Dodd or especially Jared Shuster. Both have looked pretty solid thus far this spring, but I’d still bet that they both end up in AAA.
Nick Anderson has some options remaining, but we could see him just go ahead and start the year with the Braves, or the Braves could just use one of last year’s breakout stars in the bullpen, Dylan Lee, because he is a lefty that’s more than capable of getting his team fpur to six outs occasionally.
Jeez these oblique injuries are the hot thing this spring training it seems.
Oblique injuries are due to too much muscle building by today’s players.
Nobody strained a love handle back in the day!