Elder will start Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLDS in Philadelphia, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The decision came down to Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver and Atlanta has opted for the more experienced hurler. Elder posted a 3.81 ERA over 31 starts this season, but he held a 5.11 ERA in the second half and allowed 13 runs over 12.1 innings covering his last three regular season outings. There will be a short leash for Elder in this one, with Smith-Shawver looming as an alternative if a quick hook is required.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Lined up for NLDS Game 3
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Elder is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game Thursday in Atlanta, lining him up for a potential NLDS Game 3 start next Wednesday at Philadelphia, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Spencer Strider and Max Fried (finger) are pretty much locked into Games 1 and 2 at Truist Park in Atlanta, and the NL East champs will probably then turn to Elder to handle Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park. The young right-hander struggled over his final three regular-season starts, yielding 13 earned runs in 12.1 innings, but he delivered a solid 3.81 ERA across 174.2 total frames for the year and earned his first All-Star nod.
Elder won't start as originally scheduled Sunday against Washington, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
With Elder having already thrown a career-high 180.2 innings this season, 21.2 IP more than he worked across all levels in 2022, Atlanta will skip his turn in the rotation ahead of the postseason. The 24-year-old has given up 13 runs in 12.1 innings over his last three starts, so perhaps the extended rest period will help him return to form in the NLDS. The team has not yet named a replacement starter for the final game of the regular season.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Hit hard again Tuesday
Rotowire
Elder did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks over 3.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out two.
Elder's rough stretch continued against the Cubs -- he's now allowed 13 runs in his last three starts (12.1 innings) while failing to make it through four innings in his last two outings, issuing nine walks in that span (7.1 innings). Overall, Elder's ERA is up to 3.81 with a 1.28 WHIP and 128:63 K:BB across 31 starts (174.2) innings this season. He'll look to bounce back and end his year on a high note as Elder's currently lined up to face the Nationals in Atlanta's final regular season game this weekend.
Braves' Bryce Elder: Issues season-high five walks
Rotowire
Elder did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on three hits and five walks over 3.2 innings against the Phillies. He did not record any strikeouts.
Elder got off to a rough start, issuing three walks in the first inning, including back-to-back walks to open the frame, which led to one run coming home for Philadelphia. Nick Castellanos accounted for the other three runs against Elder with a pair of homers. The right-hander has now allowed four runs in back-to-back starts, though Wednesday marked the first time since July 18 that he failed to make it through at least four frames. He also issued a season-high five walks in the contest while not recording any strikeouts for only the second time this season.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Surrenders four runs
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Elder allowed four earned runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out six across five innings Friday against the Marlins. He did not factor into the decision.
The Marlins got to Elder early as three of his earned runs came in the first inning. He managed to settle in thereafter and tallied 14 swinging strikes on 92 total pitches and also induced six groundball outs. After a rocky stretch in the immediate aftermath of the All-Star break, Elder has maintained a 2.97 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 29:12 K:BB across 36.1 frames in his last six starts.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Fans nine in win
Rotowire
Elder (12-4) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings Friday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Pirates.
The right-hander fired five scoreless innings before serving up a two-run homer to Jack Suwinski in the sixth. Elder's nine punchouts gave him a new season high, and it was his first time with more than five strikeouts since June 22. He's gone 4-0 with a stellar 2.30 ERA over his last five starts, lowering his season ERA to 3.38 through 162.1 frames. Elder is currently lined up for a start in Philadelphia next week.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Shaky command in no-decision
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Elder allowed a run on five hits and four walks while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Saturday.
Elder was able to secure his second quality start in six outings since the start of August despite not having his best command Saturday. The four walks matched his season high, and he's failed to record more than five strikeouts in a start since June 22. The 24-year-old is at a 3.42 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 111:53 K:BB through 155.1 innings across 27 starts. Elder is tentatively lined up for a home start versus the Pirates next week.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Pitches well enough to win
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Elder (11-4) earned the win over Colorado on Monday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out four batters over six innings.
The outing was far from Elder's best, but that's hardly a surprise given that he was pitching at Coors Field. The right-hander nonetheless fared moderately well, giving his team six frames and departing with a 5-4 lead. That more than held up the rest of the way, as Atlanta used a late offensive surge to turn the contest into a rout. Elder thus recorded his third straight win, and he's posted a 2.45 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB over 18.1 innings during that stretch. Among qualified NL starters, he ranks eighth with a 3.50 ERA and 12th with a 1.21 WHIP on the campaign.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Stingy in win No. 10
Rotowire
Elder (10-4) picked up the win Tuesday in a 3-2 victory over the Mets, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
The lone run charged to the right-hander scored after he'd left the mound, as Elder blanked the Mets for five frames before Pierce Johnson relieved him with one on in the sixth and promptly served up a homer to Daniel Vogelbach. Elder continues to offer little in the strikeout department -- he hasn't fanned more than five batters in a start since June 22 -- and since the All-Star break he's posted a 4.58 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB through 37.1 innings. With the Atlanta offense at his back he's won three of his last five outings, but he'll be a ratio risk in his next start, which is likely to come early next week at Coors Field.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Blanks Yanks for ninth win
Rotowire
Elder (9-4) picked up the win in Tuesday's 5-0 victory over the Yankees, scattering one hit and three walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out three.
What few baserunners Elder allowed got erased by double plays, and only one Yankee even reached second base while the right-hander was on the mound. It was an impressive rebound after the 24-year-old coughed up 12 runs (10 earned) over his prior two outings, but since the beginning of July, Elder still carries a 5.79 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 21:17 K:BB through 42 innings. He'll look to stay on track in his next start, which is likely to come at home early next week against the Mets.
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Braves' Bryce Elder: Stung for five runs in loss
Rotowire
Elder (8-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over five innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.
Elder began struggling in the bottom of the third, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while also hitting Josh Palacios with a pitch. The right-hander managed to avoid any further damage over the next two frames but was again victimized by the Pirates' offense in the sixth before being relieved by Joe Jimenez. It was the fourth time in his last six starts that Elder allowed at least five runs, and he's now lost three of his last four decisions. He's surrendered 10 runs and 13 hits over 9.1 innings to open the month of August.
