The Atlanta Braves have made several roster moves as they manage a lingering knee issue affecting Bryce Elder.
The right-hander is expected to remain out of the rotation for at least another week, with the Braves potentially bringing him back as a starter during their Sept. 14-16 series against the Chicago Cubs.
According to Atlanta manager Walt Weiss, Elder will temporarily shift to the bullpen while he continues recovering. The move allows the Braves to keep him available without putting too much pressure on his injured knee.
“Starting today, says Walt Weiss, Bryce Elder will move to the bullpen temporarily and could start during the Cubs series Sept. 14-16,” Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Elder has been dealing with the knee problem since his August start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although the issue continues to bother him, it has not been serious enough to require a stint on the injured list.
For the Braves’ upcoming games, Spencer Strider, Lopez and Perez are expected to handle the starts against the Tampa Bay Rays, while Chris Sale is scheduled to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Michael Mahle is likely to take the mound Saturday.
The Braves will continue monitoring Elder’s condition and carefully manage his workload. With the postseason approaching, getting him healthy and ready to contribute could be important to Atlanta’s rotation down the stretch.
