Bryce Elder Quietly Stabilizing Braves’ Shaky Rotation Amid Injury Chaos
The Atlanta Braves are still trying to dig out of an early-season hole, sitting at 15–18 and three games below .500. But there’s reason for optimism: the offense is waking up, the pitching staff is showing signs of life, and despite their record, the Braves remain one of the most talented teams in baseball on paper.
This offseason, the departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton — combined with hopeful talk of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s recoveries — gave the front office an excuse to avoid big free agency splashes. That plan quickly unraveled. Strider suffered another injury, Acuña has yet to return, and Reynaldo López is also sidelined. Chris Sale is off to a sluggish start, and though shedding Morton’s contract may prove wise, GM Alex Anthopoulos’ failure to adequately replace his ace pitchers is starting to loom large.
Now, the Braves’ rotation is being held together by a patchwork of young, inconsistent arms — and the fanbase hasn’t been thrilled. A.J. Smith-Shawver still battles command issues, Grant Holmes hasn’t found his groove, and Bryce Elder, once cast aside, has been forced back into action.
And surprisingly, Elder is delivering.
Bryce Elder Is Forcing Braves Fans to Rethink Their Opinions
Elder, now in his fourth MLB season, has experienced a rollercoaster journey with Atlanta — from rookie All-Star in 2023 to minor league exile after a brutal second-half collapse and a rocky 2024. He ended last season with a 6.52 ERA in just under 50 innings and looked like an afterthought heading into this year.
Bryce Elder
But out of necessity, he’s reemerged — and he’s pitching with a chip on his shoulder.
While his season ERA still sits at 5.06 with a 1.38 WHIP over six starts, Elder has turned a corner. In his last four outings, he’s posted a 4.09 ERA across 22 innings, giving up 20 hits and 10 earned runs while walking 10. The Braves have won all four of those games.
Wins matter — especially for a team that’s struggled to string them together. Elder still has command issues, but he’s doing enough to keep the Braves competitive every time he takes the mound. If he can continue to function as a reliable back-end starter once the rotation is healthy again, it could be a key turning point.
With an upper-90s fastball and a groundball rate in the 83rd percentile, Elder flashes a promising mix of power and control. He’s only 25, still growing into his game, and his recent progress should have Braves fans rethinking their judgment.
It might be time for Atlanta to start writing those apology notes.
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