Braves RHP Bryce Elder headed to injured list after undergoing right knee surgery

ATLANTA - Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Bryce Elder underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday and will be placed on the injured list, according to manager Walt Weiss.

Weiss said Elder’s recovery could take three to four weeks. Having the procedure immediately gives the 27-year-old the best chance to pitch in the postseason, which begins Sept. 29 with the Wild Card Series.

Elder, one of the National League’s best pitchers during the first half of the season, had been dealing with the knee injury since the All-Star break, Weiss said. The procedure was an arthroscopic knee surgery, commonly known as a knee scope.

“Look, credit to (Elder), he downplayed it. It’s just the way athletes think,” Weiss said. “He thought he could pitch through it, and he’s been dealing with it. When he was right - the first half of the season - he’s one of the best pitchers on our staff. He tried to fight through it, and he got to a point where he really couldn’t do it anymore.”

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Elder had a 1.88 ERA through his first seven starts of the season and a 2.66 ERA through 14 starts before encountering a few hiccups in June. He told reporters he felt something was off during his July 9 start in Pittsburgh and, including that outing, has posted a 4.29 ERA and 5.88 FIP over nine starts since.

It is uncertain whether Elder will pitch again this season, although Weiss said he is optimistic Elder could return for the playoffs. Reynaldo López, who is scheduled to be activated from the injured list Wednesday, will likely take Elder’s spot on the 28-man roster.

If Elder returns, he may be better suited for a relief role, given the Braves’ depth of starting-pitching options. With him sidelined, the Braves will continue using a six-man rotation — Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver, Martín Pérez and López — to give their pitchers extra rest ahead of the postseason.

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