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The Atlanta Braves are enjoying an MLB-best 40-20 record through the first 60 games of their 2026 season. A lot can be attributed to Atlanta emerging as the biggest threat to the Dodgers in the National League, like several starters performing better than anticipated, the lineup staying healthy, and players like Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Mauricio Dubon, and Michael Harris II carrying the offense.
However, one Braves starter who has been a revelation to the starting rotation is Bryce Elder, because nobody expected him to carry a sub-3.00 ERA is Bryce Elder. It was known before the season that Bryce Elder would likely be getting a handful of starts this season, and many Braves fans did not like that development.
Bryce Elder's 2026 season by the numbers
Bryce Elder has made 12 starts this season and carries an ERA of 2.50 over 70+ innings and 61 strikeouts. Elder was an MLB All-Star in 2023, but posted an ugly ERA of 6.52 and 5.30 in 2024 and 2025.
In that 2023 All-Star campaign, Elder finished the season with an ERA of 3.81 over 174+ innings.
The one thing he's always had going for him is taking the ball every fifth day, and he's leaned on his calling card to become the Braves co-ace with Chris Sale.
Bryce Elder named 'biggest surprise' Braves player by MLB writer
MLB writer for FanSided.com Chris Landers recently graded all 30 MLB teams, and when he grades the Braves, it's hard to look past Bryce Elder:
- "Biggest surprise: Bryce Elder"
"Flash forward a couple months, though, and the Braves have been the class of baseball, with a lineup that's mashing like it's 2023 all over again and the most stunning All-Star campaign in recent memory from Bryce Elder. Is this pitching run sustainable? Given how well they hit — and with Spencer Strider rounding into form and Hurston Waldrep coming back — does it really matter?"
Landers also gave the Braves an "A" for their performance over the first 60 games, and how could you not give them that letter grade?
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