It is desperation time in Atlanta after a miserable start that should have the Braves rethinking the quiet offseason. The team has put themselves in a position where no team wants to be in the early weeks of April. Being the last MLB team to win a game is going to put far more importance on these next few weeks than is typical of late spring games.
This requires that Atlanta approach the next few weeks of the season with incredible urgency and think twice about how quickly they move on from failing players. This includes starters AJ Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder, who are both off to rough starts in the 2025 season. Smith-Shawver has far more upside, and the Braves are understandably going to be patient. However, they cannot afford this same level of patience with Elder.
Braves Can't Continue to Start Bryce Elder if They're Serious About Turning Season Around
Losing Reynaldo Lopez in the first week of the season is the only reason Elder is in the rotation. The starter was struggling with the Gwinnett Stripers before getting the surprise call. Barring a shocking return to 2023 form, it is clear when you start Elder, you should expect to lose.
The starter has never had great swing-and-miss pitches always reliant on getting early soft contact. Elder's approach translated early in his career, resulting in a surprise All-Star berth in the pitcher's first season. However, things took a turn in the second half, and the only adjustments Elder attempted to make failed. Unless the starter shows this has changed at the lower levels there isn't a reason to continue to put Elder on the mound.
Spencer Strider is incredibly close to returning, and Atlanta needs to demote Elder. If you're serious about making history and becoming the first team starting 0-7 to make the postseason, it requires an unusual sense of urgency. This means not putting a pitcher on the mound every five days which you expect to result in a loss. At this point, it is a surprise if Elder is able to keep things close in the early innings of the game.
Bryce Elder was a good story and had a surprise run with the team two seasons ago. That is obviously far behind the starter with it becoming clear there isn't a place for Elder at this level if Atlanta is serious about winning.