Against a World Series contender, Braves’ Bryce Elder gives reason for hope

ATLANTA — After striking out Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani to strand two runners in the second inning, Atlanta Braves right-hander Bryce Elder shouted and was visibly fired up. The result of his successful ABS challenge showed on the stadium screen behind him.

It may only be late August, but Tuesday night’s outing against the reigning back-to-back champions tested whether Elder has enough in the tank to pitch against a World Series contender.

The right-hander gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out five in six innings, giving the Braves a chance to push the go-ahead run across late to beat the Dodgers 4-3. It was a crucial series-opening win to begin a three-week stretch that includes back-to-back weekend series against the surging Philadelphia Phillies and a home series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who currently have the best record in the American League.

Now, Elder needs to show that he can be consistent. After looking like one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first two months of the season with a 1.97 ERA, the 27-year-old struggled. He gave up 32 runs over 34 innings from May 27 to July 9.

However, he’s bounced back in the second half. Not including a seven-run implosion against the lowly New York Mets on Aug. 10, he has a 2.25 ERA.

“Me and (pitching coach Jeremy Hefner) have been working on some things,” Elder said. “Just moving down the mound and getting the ball coming out better again.”

Elder wasn’t as efficient Tuesday as he was when he faced the Dodgers in May, when he was sporting one of the lowest ERAs for starters on what was then MLB’s best team. Still, he gave the Braves confidence, holding the Dodgers’ first three hitters — Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts — hitless in three turns through the top of the lineup.

It wasn’t just keeping the top of the Dodgers lineup in check; another big moment for Elder came in a tie game with runners on first and second. Rather than turn the game over to lefty Dylan Dodd, who was already warming in the bullpen, manager Walt Weiss afforded Elder the chance to work himself out of the sixth-inning jam, and it paid off with Elder striking out Alex Call and Alek Thomas to escape.

“I never, ever worry about Elder’s composure,” Weiss said. “His demeanor never changes. … That’s a great strength to have.”

If the Braves are going to make it past the first round of the playoffs, they’ll need Elder to channel what he showed Tuesday night into the remainder of his starts. They don’t have the luxury of relying on the returns of Spencer Strider or Hurston Waldrep, who aren’t progressing quickly enough from elbow injuries. And AJ Smith-Shawver, who is scheduled to start Wednesday, isn’t yet battle-tested.

A surge from Elder, paired with continued consistency from trade deadline acquisition Tyler Mahle, can go a long way toward carrying the team into the playoffs and past whoever they face in the National League Wild Card Series, if they can’t secure a first-round bye.

“We’re really prepared,” Elder said. “With the (recent 6-10) stretch we had, it kind of sucked for a little bit. But like I said about tonight, something about playing good teams — you look at it on paper and you’re like, ‘Ooh, it’s it’s going to be tough.’

“But at the same time, most of the team’s been around so long that sometimes we need the better team to get guys ready to go.”