Bryce Elder said something felt a little off in his right knee after a July 9 start in Pittsburgh. He pitched just four innings that day and left after giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.
In his next four starts, however, Elder was great, pitching to a 1.88 ERA over 24 innings while the Braves went 3-1 in those games. But after those outings Elder’s knee would become uncomfortable, even swollen at times.
There was never any pain, Elder said, and the issue didn’t surface when the right-hander was on the mound — only after.
On Aug. 10 at Truist Park, Elder was knocked around by the Mets, giving up seven runs on 10 hits and three walks. He rebounded the next time out (Aug. 16) with six innings of one-run ball against the Diamondbacks.
“(Elder’s) been fighting through some knee stuff — not enough to make him miss a start, but he’s been fighting through it,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said at the time. “So you tip your cap to him because he continues to take the ball and has been very durable.”
Turns out, because of some roster maneuvering that needed to be done, the Braves were able to give Elder a week off from his scheduled turn in the rotation.
The Aug. 16 appearance at Truist against the Diamondbacks was the last time Elder (8-7, 3.92) toed the rubber. He was with the squad on its most recent road trip, but used that time to rehabilitate and restrengthen the right knee, often using a water weight bag in the process.
There isn’t any concern Elder’s knee discomfort could be long-term, nor is there any structural damage, Elder said. It’s thought to simply be caused from the wear and tear of a long season.
Meanwhile, on Aug. 18, the Braves recalled right-handed pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver from Triple-A Gwinnett. That move served two purposes: Smith-Shawver took Elder’s spot in the rotation, and it allowed the Braves to retain an option year for Smith-Shawver, who had spent less than 20 days in the minors.
Smith-Shawver wasn’t great in his performance Wednesday against the Twins — he allowed four runs over 4⅓ innings. But that start, while allowing Elder to rest, also served as another building block for Smith-Shawver, who is scheduled to start Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers at Truist Park.
“(Gave Elder) a little more time,” Weiss said Friday in Milwaukee. “He was nursing the knee thing a little bit, so gives him a little bit more time. And, of course, we’re always trying to give (left-handed starter) Chris (Sale) extra days and we’ve been able to do that. So, yeah, it worked out.”
Elder will return to the mound Tuesday when the Braves open a three-game series against the NL West-leading Dodgers at Truist. It will be Elder’s 25th start of 2026, six shy of his career-high 31 in 2023 when he was an All-Star.
The 27-year-old is having his best season since that ‘23 campaign with a 1.235 WHIP (currently a career-best) and a 1.4 WAR, second only to the 2.7 he finished with in 2023.
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