Since completing their home sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in early June, the Atlanta Braves are 8-17, winning exactly one series over that span.
But they can change that tune Thursday afternoon, somewhat fittingly against the Pirates.
After a beatdown loss in Game 1 and a late scoring surge in a shutout win in Game 2, the Braves close out their series in Pittsburgh Thursday at 12:35 p.m. ET before heading to St. Louis for a weekend series.
If they’re going to win a series and begin to trend back in the right direction, a strong performance on the mound from Bryce Elder would set them on that path.
The right-hander’s 5-6 record and 4.01 ERA are certainly not representative of his recent form. He’s been off since June 27, skipped once through the order after some serious struggles of late.
After he had a 5-3 record and 2.66 ERA through his first 14 starts, he’s lost his last three starts, allowing a combined 19 runs on 27 hits over 14 innings. Opposing teams had a .313 batting average and 1.61 WHIP against Elder in June, with 35 hits and 24 runs allowed in 26 2/3 innings.
Maybe another start against the Pirates will be what he needs to take a step back in the right direction. His last effective start came against Pittsburgh in Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits over six innings. At that time, that was his 10th quality start in 14 total starts this season.
Suffice it to say, he hasn’t had close to another one of those since.
In his career against Pittsburgh, Elder is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA over four starts, striking out 26 and walking five over 24 innings.
He’ll be facing off against Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller. In the Pirates’ pre-Paul Skenes era, Keller was someone who seemed like a possible future ace for them. The former second-round pick was an All-Star in 2023 and had an ERA of 4.25 or better in each of the last four seasons.
This season, though, has been more of a struggle for Keller, now 30, who enters with a 6-6 record and 5.02 ERA, his worst since his first 100-inning season in 2021.
Like Elder, he had a stellar ERA early in the season that has taken a hit of late. In his six starts since June began, he’s 1-4 with a 6.47 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 13 walks in 32 innings. While his skid really began in his last start of May, he wasn’t very good back on June 5 at Atlanta, allowing six runs — tied for his second most this season — on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.
That’s basically in line with Keller’s track record against the Braves. He has a 1-4 record and 7.85 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta.
After Atlanta was so incredible in rubber matches early in the year, winning eight of their first nine, they’ve lost their last four deciding games of series.
This presents another chance to end that drought and build back some momentum with both the Phillies and Marlins only three games back in the NL East.
Game Info
Game Time: Thursday, July 9, 12:35 EDT
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Watch: BravesVision
Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
