MLB loses another good pitcher to a bad elbow:

Braves ace right-hander Spencer Strider has damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an MRI revealed Saturday, leaving his status for the remainder of the season in doubt.

The Braves said Strider will be evaluated further by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, at a date to be determined. Even though the team did not announce the severity of the damage, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said the result “wasn’t good.”

Chron.com

Strider throws a lot of sliders, nearly two-thirds of his pitches. When someone like him goes down, I’m reminded of this story about Zack Greinke:

Greinke, being Greinke, was perhaps just self-aware enough to change. He still throws plenty of sliders, but hopes to cap them at 15, maybe 20, per start, thereby balancing his desire to win with the hope to pitch again in five days. Perhaps the ulnar collateral ligament goes a thread at a time, he doesn’t really know, but if so, he was going to budget his threads, and not pitch straight through his elbow by the time he was 30 and then be no good to himself or his team for a year.

I suspect people studied this, and probably found no clear connection between sliders and elbow injuries. It still may be worth keeping the pitch in your pocket until you really need it.

Update: Jonathan Loaisiga of the Yankees needs elbow surgery as well.

Loaisiga said he will not have Tommy John surgery, which would have required 16 months for recovery. Instead, he will have a procedure that will sideline him for 10 to 12 months. He said Dr. Keith Meister will handle the surgery in Texas. Meister is known for performing an internal brace UCL surgery that trims recovery time.

ESPN.com

Loaisiga throw sliders at about half the rate as Strider.