Despite all the injuries in the starting rotation, the Atlanta Braves are 3-1. Welcoming in the Athletics, the Braves received a solid pitching performance from right-hander Bryce Elder to open the series.
The former All-Star (2023) pitched six shutout innings while striking out five and walking one in his first start. Braves manager Walt Weiss said of Elder’s performance, “Hell of a job by Bryce,” Weiss said to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. “I’m really proud of him.”
Elder helped to ease Braves fans’ worries about him and a depleted starting rotation. Elder had a 4.73 ERA and allowed seven earned runs in 13.1 innings this spring.
Bryce Elder Feels Like He’s a More “Complete” Pitcher This Season for the Atlanta Braves
“I think I’m more complete,” Elder said. “I think in ’23, I went on a run and was just making good pitches over and over again. But from a stuff standpoint and the crispness and stuff, yeah, I absolutely do.”
Elder is three years removed from his best season — 12-4 with a 3.81 ERA in 2023 — and had back-to-back down seasons. In 2024, Elder had a 6.52 ERA, and in 2025, a 5.30 ERA. Elder started in Triple-A Gwinnett and shuttled back and forth for the remainder of the season.
Braves Catcher Jonah Heim Emphasized How Bryce Elder’s Stuff Has Jumped Up
Veteran catcher Jonah Heim emphasized how Elder’s stuff has gotten better. Saying, “he’s got so much run with his sinker.”
“When he’s got so much run with his sinker, you’ve got to play that back-and-forth game with both pitches,” Heim said. “When you’ve got all that movement, and you can locate north, south, east, and west, it makes it really easy on me to call a game.”
Though it’s a small sample, Elder’s whiff percentage on his sinker has increased from 15.2% in 2025 to 23.1%. Elder also increased the vertical drop on his changeup, going from 31.7 inches in 2025 to 33.7 inches, per Baseball Savant.
Bryce Elder Helps the Braves Win Their First Challenge of the Season
If pitching a shutout through six innings wasn’t enough, Elder helped the Braves win their first ABS (Automated Ball/Strike system) challenge. Facing Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers in the top of the fourth inning, Heim challenged a low strike call that was deemed a ball by home plate umpire Dan Bellino.
Challenge ACCEPTED 😎 pic.twitter.com/X1Fy4BV1rb
— BravesVision (@BravesVisionTV) March 31, 2026
The Braves will face Athletics right-hander Aaron Civale on Tuesday. Weiss has a decision between left-handers Martin Perez or Jose Suarez.
Main Photo Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
