Elder has delivered six-inning outings and a 3.33 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP over his last four starts, plus a velocity uptick in August-September that could sustain his recent success.

Elder struggled in the latest start against Houston, highlighting potential volatility in Braves’ rotation and suggesting a cautious stance on streaming Braves pitchers until performance stabilizes.

Elder braced for a rough night, allowing six runs (four earned) on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings before the Braves bullpen steadied the ship. He logged seven strikeouts but couldn’t keep Houston’s offense in check, especially in the early stretches.

Elder has a 7-9 record with a 5.35 ERA, showing struggle at times but holds strikeout upside. Facing Houston’s disciplined lineup will test his control and pitch sequencing. His performance could swing this key series and influence Braves’ late-season momentum.

Elder has heated up, delivering four quality starts in five and benefiting from a slider that's finally coming around. The Houston matchup is manageable for a floor-based streamer who can generate weak contact and groundballs, supporting ratios with decent strikeout upside if his slider continues to sharpen.