Bryce Elder reveals why he is next up for the Braves

The Braves, like most of last year, have a position in their rotation that is available for competition due to injuries.

However, the goal is that someone would take advantage of their moment and not look back, as Bryce Elder did last season when Max Fried went down.

The 24-year-old was promoted in early April and made the NL All-Star team, but a dismal second half and the signings of Reynaldo Lopez and Chris Sale this offseason left Elder on the outside looking in at the end of Spring Training. With Spencer Strider out for the season, most expected Elder to be the next in line, but Allan Winans and Darius Vines have already received major league experience.

Winans failed tremendously against the Mets, and we may not see him with the Braves again this season. Vines, on the other hand, demonstrated some actual talent against a good Astros lineup, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing only one run while striking out four. He deserves another chance in the rotation, but if he falters, Bryce Elder has made it clear who should come next.

Elder is 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA and 18 strikeouts in three starts with the Gwinnett Stripers, and his performance last night may have exemplified who he is as a pitcher. He labored badly in the first inning, allowing four hits and three runs before recording an out. That’s the beginning of a terrible outing for most new pitchers, but Elder settled in, got out of the inning, and went on to pitch six innings without allowing another run to cross the plate.

The former Texas Longhorn standout will not blow anyone away with his stuff, but as I have stated for years, the young guy just understands the basics of pitching. He has had success at all levels, from college to the majors. Elder locates as good as anyone, is fearless when runners are on base, and does not allow many free passes. That is a prescription for success for any pitcher, regardless of how hard he throws.

Darius Vines deserves another chance after his performance on Monday, but it won’t be long until Bryce Elder is wearing a tomahawk across his chest again.