Bryce Elder Credits Brewers After Rough Outing Extends Tough Stretch

Bryce Elder is in the middle of a rough patch that he cannot seem to shake.

The Atlanta Braves right-hander took the loss on Sunday after the Milwaukee Brewers scored eight runs in the second inning of a 9-4 win at Truist Park.

Elder gave up 12 hits and eight earned runs across six innings while striking out six and walking two, and the loss dropped him to 5-5 on the year while pushing his ERA to 3.71.

After the game, Elder gave the Brewers credit for how they went about their at-bats and tipped his cap to their approach.

"I thought they did a heck of a job of waiting me out and putting good swings on stuff," Elder said. "Even early in counts they took a hit that the pitch allowed them to have. Hats off to them."

The outing was the latest sign of a trend that has been building for weeks.

Through his first 11 starts this season, Elder carried a 1.97 ERA over 68 2/3 innings with a 4-2 record while the Braves were building the best record in the National League.

But in his last five starts, that number has ballooned to a 7.70 ERA with 19 earned runs across 22 2/3 innings and five home runs allowed.

Despite the beating, Elder seemed to take some comfort in the fact that he stayed in the game long enough to keep the bullpen from having to eat innings in a blowout.

"I did not pitch well, but it sure didn't feel like eight runs," Elder said. "I was kind of pleased with getting to the sixth inning, but I have to be better in the second to get out of that."

The Braves sit at 48-28 and still hold the best record in the National League, but they have lost seven of their last ten and the pitching concerns are starting to stack up.

Spencer Strider was recently shut down for four weeks with right elbow inflammation, and Spencer Schwellenbach has been out since before the season.

The club was already counting on Elder to carry a bigger workload than expected, and this slide could not have come at a worse time.

Milwaukee, at 46-29 and leading the NL Central, showed what a patient lineup can do against a pitcher fighting his command.

Elder's sinker had just a 9 percent whiff rate on Sunday, and former Brave William Contreras led the charge with four hits and a three-run homer.

For a team with October goals, the question is whether Elder can turn things around or if the front office needs to find help before the deadline.

The results are heading the wrong way at the wrong time.