Atlanta Braves Going With All-Star Bryce Elder as Game 3 Starter For NLDS

Manager Brian Snitker has picked 24-year-old All-Star Bryce Elder to be the Atlanta Braves' starter in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Atlanta Braves have chosen 24-year-old right-hander Bryce Elder as their starting pitcher for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, the club announced Wednesday morning.

Elder made his first All-Star Game this season, finishing the year 12-4 with a 3.81 ERA, 1.277 WHIP, 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.9 WAR in 31 starts. This was Elder's first full MLB season, as the former fifth round pick was limited to just 54.0 innings as a rookie in 2022.

Manager Brian Snitker is turning to Elder with the best-of-five series tied 1-1. All-Star Spencer Strider got stuck with the loss in Game 1, despite allowing just one earned run across 7.0 innings of work, while lefty Max Fried gave up three earned in 4.0 innings in what turned out to be a comeback Game 2 victory.

On the mound for Game 3: pic.twitter.com/mkyxcPvQPY

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 11, 2023

Elder has made two starts against the Phillies this season, the first of which came back on June 22. The young hurler struck out six and allowed just three hits in 7.0 scoreless innings in that game, which the Braves won 5-1.

The more recent meeting between Elder and Philadelphia came on Sept. 20. Elder walked five and gave up four earned runs in 3.2 innings as Atlanta went on to lose 6-5.

Elder will be making his postseason debut Wednesday, and he will be doing so in front of a hostile Philadelphia crowd. His lone appearance at Citizens Bank Park was his seven-inning gem in June, however.

First pitch for Wednesday night's Game 3 showdown is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. ET. Elder will be facing off against Aaron Nola, who closed out the NL Wild Card Series against the Miami Marlins with 7.0 shutout innings on Oct. 4.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Check out more Atlanta Braves coverage at Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Braves Today.

Check out more Philadelphia Phillies coverage at Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Inside the Phillies.