Braves Option Bryce Elder, Set to Welcome Back Spencer Strider to Rotation

The Atlanta Braves made a rotation shake-up over the weekend, optioning right-hander Bryce Elder to Triple-A and calling up lefty Dylan Dodd. While Elder’s demotion isn’t a surprise—he’s posted a 4.50 ERA and 4.92 FIP over eight starts—it’s a move that opens a notable vacancy in the starting rotation behind Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Grant Holmes.

Though Dodd might seem like the natural choice to fill that spot—he’s started seven of his eight MLB games—he’s been working as a reliever in Triple-A this season. Instead, Spencer Strider is expected to step back into the rotation after a stint on the injured list. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Strider will take Elder’s spot once he’s officially activated on May 20.

Strider, 26, missed most of last season after undergoing UCL internal brace surgery, and returned to the mound just over a month ago, pitching five strong innings of one-run ball. However, he suffered a hamstring strain shortly after while playing catch, sidelining him once again. Now, after throwing a 70-75 pitch simulated game, the Braves appear ready to bring him back without a rehab assignment.

Spencer Strider

The timing couldn’t be better. After a disastrous 0-7 start, Atlanta has rebounded to a 24-23 record, sitting just four games out of a playoff spot and five games behind the division-leading Mets. With Strider returning to a rotation that already includes NL Triple Crown winner Chris Sale, and young flamethrowers Schwellenbach and Smith-Shawver, the Braves are poised to make a serious push.

And there’s more help possibly on the way: Ronald Acuña Jr. is nearing a return, and All-Stars Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II have yet to hit their stride offensively. If Strider can rediscover the form that made him one of MLB’s most dominant pitchers from 2022–2023—when he posted a 3.36 ERA, 2.43 FIP, and 37.4% strikeout rate—Atlanta’s ceiling only gets higher.