Walt Weiss says the Spencer Strider return picture is still open, while also touching on Hurston Waldrep and a balk call

Atlanta Braves pitching coordinator Walt Weiss offered an update on several pitching storylines around the club on Monday night, including Spencer Strider’s timeline for returning in 2026. Weiss’s comments, as relayed in a Yahoo Sports report, suggest that the door is not fully shut on Strider yet.

The update arrives after earlier “scuttlebutt” from Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, reported around the trade deadline, that Strider had cleared out his locker room and was likely done for the season. In this newer account, Weiss’s stance contrasts with that earlier certainty, implying the situation is more fluid than the rumor mill suggested.

Weiss also addressed Hurston Waldrep, another Braves pitching focus point, though the report frames the information as updates rather than a definitive timetable. For Atlanta, having clarity on both pitchers matters because depth in the starting rotation and leverage innings are often the deciding factors when a season moves into its final stretch and rosters tighten for October.

Beyond the return picture, Weiss discussed a balk call described in the coverage as “weird,” underscoring how small, technical officiating moments can swing momentum and sharpen scrutiny around pitchers who live on the edge of mechanics. Even when the broader story is health and readiness, these in-game calls remain part of how pitchers and staffs manage appearances and tempo.

Taken together, the developments point to a Braves staff that is still working through the practical question of how to allocate workload and roles. If Strider is progressing in a way that keeps a 2026 return plausible, that changes how Atlanta would think about innings security, bullpen planning, and risk tolerance across upcoming starts and matchups.

At the same time, the report’s emphasis that Strider still has “a long way to go” is an important caveat. “Not closed” does not mean “imminent,” and Weiss’s comments leave room for the possibility that the Braves could continue to proceed cautiously based on how a return buildup goes. Fans and roster planners should treat the update as an opening of possibilities, not a guarantee.

What to watch next is whether additional official Braves or MLB reporting clarifies timelines for Strider and Waldrep, and whether the club’s pitching usage reflects a gradually increasing workload plan. In the near term, Weiss’s comments also suggest that attention will remain on both command mechanics and situational execution, especially when balk-related and similar technical matters become a storyline in televised games.