Braves Manager Praises Bryce Elder Amid Breakout Season

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Braves Manager Praises Bryce Elder Amid Breakout Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Logan VanDine | Last updated May 27, 2026 6:34 PM ET

Entering this season, the starting rotation looked to be the Atlanta Braves' biggest weakness, especially after it had plagued them much of last season.

Atlanta entered 2026 without Spencer Strider (oblique), AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery), and Spencer Schwellenbach, who continues to deal with right elbow inflammation.

Despite Strider's return from the injured list, it goes without saying that aside from Chris Sale, the Braves' rotation has had to make a lot of adjustments with the season just a quarter of the way through.

Those adjustments have resulted not only in the Braves owning one of the best ERAs in all of Major League Baseball, but also in some unlikely arms stepping up. One of those arms is Bryce Elder, who Braves manager Walt Weiss praised for his exceptional pitching this season.

During an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Weiss spoke very highly of Edler, who has quickly solidified himself as an ace to the Braves' staff.

"Bryce is a really smart kid... he made some changes that you have to do in this league, you have to constantly be ahead of the curve because everyone is counter punching," Weiss said. "Bryce made some delivery changes, tweaked some things...he's the real deal, it's been a huge lift to this rotation, him doing what he's doing."

"He's the real deal."

With a current 1.97 ERA, SP Bryce Elder has made a substantial impact on the #Braves rotation.#BravesCountry
https://t.co/iXax8hx4iO pic.twitter.com/n8HeSurcu8
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 27, 2026

Over the last couple of seasons, Elder almost seemed like a castoff in the Braves' organization. After an impressive rookie season in 2022 (3.17 ERA in 10 games and nine starts) and an All-Star Game selection the following year, the 27-year-old hit a wall soon after.

Elder started the 2024 season in Triple-A Gwinnett after failing to secure the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation. And when the righty was up in the big leagues, Elder logged a dismal 6.52 ERA in just 10 starts. Elder followed up that down season with a 5.30 ERA in 28 starts last year for a Braves rotation that was decimated by injuries.

But when it looked like his future as a big leaguer was in jeopardy, 2026 has been a major bounce-back season for Elder. In 11 starts this season, Elder is 4-2 with the fifth-best ERA in the National League at 1.97, 60 strikeouts and an impeccable 0.99 WHIP in 68.2 innings pitched.

Elder's great season has just been one of the reasons why the Braves enter Wednesday with the best record in Major League Baseball at 37-18 and a comfortable nine-game lead in the NL East.

After 2026, it looked to be a transitional season for the Braves due to having a first-year skipper in Walt Weiss and an injury-plagued rotation to open the year. But Bryce Elder has been a huge lift for the team in their quest back to the postseason.

Elder will look to keep his dominance going as he takes the mound for the Braves against the Boston Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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