Atlanta Braves fans were filled with concerns regarding Bryce Elder before the 2026 MLB season began. The veteran right-handed hurler was coming off a poor 2025 performance, and some spring training struggles left some Braves fans ready to hit the panic button before Opening Day.
Two starts into the 2026 season for Elder and the Braves can't help but begin to wonder if the right-hander has finally righted the ship.
While it is an incredibly small sample size, there is no denying the exciting start for the 26-year-old righty and the possibilities that it opens. Elder has pitched 13.0 innings in two starts, striking out 13 and only giving up two unearned runs in his first two starts. He's averaging career-highs in strikeouts (9.0), walks (1.4), and hits (6.2) per nine innings pitched.
Even if it's not sustainable through September and into October, Elder's strong start is better than Braves fans could've asked for.
Braves Need Bryce Elder's Resurgence to Last
Injured pitchers Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach are still all expected to return over the next few weeks of the season. For Elder, there is an understanding that the clock is ticking on his chance to cement himself as a part of the team's future, and the first two starts of the season have been a reminder of that.
Elder pitching at this level gives the Braves very interesting options when it comes to putting together its bullpen or even extending to a six-man rotation. No matter how the Braves opt to manage the situation, there is no denying that if the right-hander continues to perform at this level, they cannot take him out of the rotation.
What has made Elder so enjoyable to watch in his first two starts has been an aggressive style that pitches to contact. Opposing batters are only averaging a .456 OPS against him, while his 27.7% strikeout-rate is higher than his career average (19.1%), as well as the MLB average this season (22.5%). This is far from the player Atlanta fans have watched for the bulk of the last two seasons, but more reminiscent of the starter Elder was in his first months with Atlanta.
As exciting as it might be, it must be noted that both of these starts came against underwhelming offensive teams in the Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks. Neither lineup is lighting the world on fire, so it'll be interesting to see if he can replicate that success against tougher teams.
According to the Braves' probable pitchers page, it's likely that Elder will face the 6-4 Cleveland Guardians at home this weekend.
Still, there is no denying the clear difference in Elder's demeanor and the willingness to attack hitters. Each of his first two starts has gone at least six innings, helping manager Walt Weiss spare the bullpen in what has been a stretch of 13 games in as many days. This is the type of consistency that managers notice and appreciate, cracking the door open even further for the pitcher's resurgence to keep him firmly in the rotation.
As early as it might be, Elder's resurgence is a great problem to have this early into the 2026 campaign.