2026 has brought revival for 26-year-old starting pitcher Bryce Elder, who underwent significant struggles in 2025. 

He's excelled with a 4-1 record, 1.81 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 54.2 innings. 

He's helped stabilize the Atlanta Braves rotation by only allowing two runs or fewer in the majority of his starts. 

His stellar performance on the mound has earned him the title of ERA leader in the NL. 

Your new ERA leader in the National League:

BRYCE ELDER

What an incredible turnaround for the Braves righty! pic.twitter.com/vPZ14VGqDa

How Bryce Elder overcame his 2025 struggles

Elder struggled with giving up the long ball, hitting against lefties and commanding the strike zone. His slider was also unstable, as hitters had success against it. 

But with offseason adjustments and working with Greg Maddux, he's re-established his dominance. He's transformed his performance by relying more on his slider, which has limited opponents to a .159 batting average. 

Elder has altered the mix in his arsenal by leaning less on sinker and increasing the usage of his slider, four-seamer and cutter. The addition of the cutter has helped bridge his slider, making him more effective against lefties. 

Elder has also demonstrated a return to form from his 2023 All-Star season. His high-end consistency has been established by allowing two runs or fewer in the bulk of his starts, followed by a barrel rate of 3.5 percent (89th percentile), showing a major improvement in limiting hard contact. 

Overall, Elder has made a 365-degree turnaround from being a bust to a high-floor starter. The Braves are set to take on the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night following a series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers.