Desperately needing to stack wins, the Braves have their organizational seventh starter in Bryce Elder facing off against Giants’ ace Logan Webb.

Elder has been serviceable this season, pitching at exactly replacement level per fWAR over about 50 innings. That fits his performance from last season as well. His vertical slider has been quite effective and he is throwing it more than any other pitch, but his lower 90s sinker has not been located particularly well and has been hit pretty hard, while the four-seamer and changeup he mixes in are pretty tame pitches. He can give you non-catastrophic innings by avoiding too many walks and inducing ground balls. That’s a great guy to have waiting in AAA for a situation just like the Braves have found themselves in, with two starting pitchers out

See Full Page