Braves' Strider to use 'default' pitch as counter to pitch clock

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider has created a strategy to counter any pressure resulting from Major League Baseball's new pitch clock.

"I've used the analogy 'I feel like a quarterback now,' so I'm watching the play clock, reading the defense, trying to get the play off in time," Strider said, according to Fox 5 Sports' Justin Felder.

"If we don't know what we want to run, we have to have a default play (so we) don't get hit for delay of game."

The NL runner-up for the 2022 Rookie of the Year award wouldn't show his hand as far as what pitch he expects to use when the clock is running down, but he did offer some clarity about how he plans to handle the situation with Braves catchers this season.

"It's a game-to-game, inning-to-inning type thing," he said.

"Some of it is going to depend on who we are facing, what pitch is working, and certain situations. It's something we could change pretty fluid. It's what spring training is for, so we'll figure these things out."

MLB will introduce a pitch clock at the big-league level this season to create a quicker pace of play. Pitchers have 15 seconds to deliver the ball to home with no runners on base and 20 seconds to do the same with someone aboard.

A pitch clock reduced minor-league game times by 26 minutes, according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.