After splitting the first two NLDS games in Atlanta with the Phillies, Braves Manager Brian Snitker had a decision to make on who would start Game 3 for the Braves, and just after 11am the Braves officially announced that Bryce Elder would be the starter tonight.
Charlie Morton would have been the Game 3 starter had he not been placed on IL near the end of the regular season, but once it was determined he would be unavailable for the NLDS, the conversation began about who would follow Strider and Fried in the Braves rotation, and in a discussion of Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver, the team chose Bryce Elder.
Elder made two starts against the Phillies during the 2023 season, winning one and losing the other. In his lone start at Citizens Bank Park on June 22, Elder went 7 innings and allowed just 3 hits and 0 runs while walking two and striking out six. More recently Elder was roughed up a bit going just 3.2 innings and allowing 4 runs on 3 hits with 2 HR's and 5 walks given up on September 20th.
Phillies star Bryce Harper shared some complimentary words about Elder after that June 22nd performance in Philly, including some comments about potentially facing him in the postseason. "I think he's got good stuff, feels like he's going to be a really good pitcher. If [the Braves] get into the postseason, he's going to be really good for them, I think, just because he has no heartbeat. He's very slow out there. He knows what he's doing.”
Game 3 in Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park will start at 5:07pm ET and opposing Bryce Elder will be Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola.
