Bryce Elder continues to turn back the clock

The Braves bullpen faltered against the Nationals Wednesday night, ending their 24-hour stint at the .500 mark. But looking at it from a glass-half-full perspective, Bryce Elder continues to put together quality starts.

Coming into the season, it was fair to wonder just how many more opportunities Elder was going to get with the Braves. He’d consistently been one of the worst starters in baseball since his memorable All-Star campaign back in 2023. He also doesn’t have the kind of high upside stuff worth hanging onto for too long.

Elder posted a 6.52 ERA in 2024 over 10 starts, spending most of his time with the Gwinnett Stripers, where he wasn’t all that impressive either. His 2025 campaign then got off to a similar start. Out of necessity, the Braves were forced to turn to him much earlier than anticipated, and he repaid them by recording a 7.20 ERA over his first three starts.

Ever since, though, Bryce Elder has given the Braves a chance to win. He’s gone at least five innings in five straight starts, allowing no more than three earned runs, with three starts of two earned runs or less, like the one he had on Wednesday against the Nationals.

It’s never pretty with Elder. He’s going to give up some knocks and loves surrendering the occasional 440-foot blast, but six innings of one-run ball will play every day of the week. His ERA on the season is down to a much more respectable 4.50 mark, and he’s starting to earn the trust of the club again, a sight many Braves fans thought they’d never see again.

Who knows what the future holds for Elder. Spencer Strider could return as early as next week, and when that happens, someone has to go. Maybe the Braves opt to move Grant Holmes back to the bullpen, a role he thrived in last season, but spots 1-4 appear set once Strider is activated. There’s simply no way the Braves can justify sending AJ Smith-Shawver back to Gwinnett with the way he’s pitched this season.

Regardless, the Braves know as well as anyone how valuable pitching depth can be, and at some point, they are going to need Bryce Elder again, who has proven he can be a reliable option for now.