Braves Send Bryce Elder Against Pirates in Series Finale After Taking First Two Games

The Atlanta Braves, owners of MLB's best record as of June 7, 2026, will send Bryce Elder to the mound on Sunday in search of a series sweep against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves won the first two games of the three-game set and secured their 18th series victory of the season after Saturday's 6-3 victory. Atlanta has two three-game sweeps this year.

89 ERA) in the finale. In his fifth season with Atlanta, Elder has made 13 starts and firmly re-established himself in the rotation. He bounced back from his worst start of the season, when he allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings against Boston on May 27, to beat the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Elder pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs; it was the ninth time he's gone at least six innings. "My sinker wasn't moving and I've never had my sinker not move like that, especially since that's the pitch I probably throw more than any other pitch," Elder said. "(Catcher) Sandy (Leon) did a heck of a job getting me through that.

00 ERA. He lost to Pittsburgh last year, although he turned in a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings. Chandler ended a five-game losing streak by beating Houston on Tuesday.

He pitched five innings and allowed four runs on six hits and two walks, striking out three. He settled down after allowing two first-inning runs and earned his first victory since April 17. "It could have been completely different if Bubba gets out of his rhythm and started to press in the moment," Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said.

He continued to attack the strike zone and got through five innings. " Chandler's inability to go deep has put additional stress on the Pittsburgh bullpen. He has pitched into the sixth only twice.