Look, we completely understand if there are Atlanta Braves fans who have no interest in the team continuing to tempt fate with Bryce Elder. Elder has earned a fair bit of skepticism with the number of his starts that were either unnecessary adventures or outright disasters.
However, there is no denying that Elder was great in the Braves’ win over the Dodgers on Sunday, and it’s worth understanding why.
A Quiet Turnaround in the Numbers
Over his last three starts, Elder has quietly pieced together a stretch of competence—maybe even a glimpse of his All-Star self. He’s posted a 3.18 ERA and a 3.66 FIP while the Braves won all three games.
The strikeout numbers are modest at best—just 12 across 17 innings—but the real highlight is the one home run allowed in that span. For a guy who’s been known to spiral when the long ball shows up, that’s a significant shift.
It’s not flashy. Elder isn’t reinventing pitching. But there’s enough movement in the metrics to suggest something tangible is going on. And if you ask those who’ve followed his trajectory, the answer points to one pitch: the slider.
Rediscovering the Slider That Made Him
Let’s go back to 2023 when Elder shocked the league and earned an All-Star nod. He wasn’t fooling anyone with heat—his velocity has always been pedestrian.
His location, deception, and nasty slider, which got hitters out in bunches, made him effective. He threw it 35.3% of the time and limited opponents to a .210 average against it. It was his safety blanket, his put-away pitch, and the backbone of his success.
Then, 2024 arrived, and the wheels came off. That same slider became a liability, with hitters torching it for a .283 average and .604 slugging. The damage wasn’t subtle. It showed up in box scores, scouting reports, and eventually in how willing the Braves were to keep Elder on the mound. When your best pitch turns hittable, confidence follows it right out the door.
But recently, something changed. Elder isn’t just throwing the slider again—he’s leaning on it. More than ever, in fact. For the first time in his career, it’s his most-used pitch, and the results speak volumes.
Opponents are batting .200 against it with a .364 slugging percentage. It’s not quite 2023-level dominance, but it’s absolutely a step back in the right direction.
Needed Stability in a Shaky Braves Rotation
Let’s not sugarcoat it—the Braves need Elder right now. Atlanta doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for someone better to emerge. They need innings, ground balls, and someone who won’t implode by the third inning.
This version of Elder, grounded in confidence and rediscovered craft, might just be enough. Sure, history warns us not to count on consistency from him for long. But in the middle of a season where pitching health and depth are under siege across the league, Elder’s mini-resurgence isn’t just encouraging—it’s necessary.
So, is it real? Hard to say. But it’s happening at the right time, and for a team with World Series aspirations and thin margins, that’s sometimes all that matters.
