Over the weekend, the Atlanta Braves sent Bryce Elder packing to Triple-A, a move that surprised absolutely no one if you’ve been watching him pitch this year. Elder, a 2023 All-Star, hasn’t looked like his old self, clocking in with a middling 4.50 ERA and an even less flattering 4.92 FIP. Not exactly the stuff of aces.
The Dodd Detour That Wasn’t
Naturally, eyebrows raised in the direction of Dylan Dodd — the lefty has big-league starting experience and seemed like the obvious plug-and-play choice. He’s started seven of his eight MLB appearances, and on paper, he made sense.
Dodd’s been working exclusively out of the bullpen in Triple-A this year, which signals a shift in how the organization sees his role. That alone put a dent in his chances, but MLB.com’s Mark Bowman dropped the real nugget: Spencer Strider was getting the call.
Spencer Strider Is Back — For Real This Time
Enter Strider, the 26-year-old flamethrower who missed nearly all of last season with internal brace surgery on his UCL. He teased a comeback earlier this year, tossing five strong innings before a hamstring tweak sidelined him again.
The team opted for caution, shelving him for the past month. But after a 70-to-75 pitch simulated game last week, the Braves liked what they saw. They put him back in the big-league rotation with no rehab stint or training wheels.
Strider’s return isn’t just about filling a hole. It’s about reigniting what was, not long ago, one of the most dominant arsenals in baseball. Between 2022 and 2023, the right-hander posted a 3.36 ERA, a lights-out 2.43 FIP, and an eye-popping 37.4% strikeout rate. That’s not just good — that’s anchor-of-a-playoff-rotation good.
A Braves Season on the Brink Finds New Life
And make no mistake: the Braves need that version of Strider. After starting the season 0-7, this club has battled back to 24-23. They’re just four games shy of a Wild Card spot and five back of the division-leading Mets.
With Chris Sale looking like a reborn ace, and young flamethrowers like Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver showing serious promise, this rotation might just be turning into a weaponized strength.
Strider is stepping back in and shifting the entire outlook. And the cavalry doesn’t stop there. Ronald Acuña Jr. is lurking in the wings, nearing a return. Meanwhile, All-Stars Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II have barely scratched the surface offensively. If even half of those pieces fall into place, the Braves might be primed for a serious run.
So yeah, Bryce Elder’s demotion isn’t just about performance but timing. The window is open, reinforcements are arriving, and Atlanta’s about to find out how much firepower they’ve left in the tank.
