Elder, López rotation battle signals impressive depth

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Given what he experienced last year, Bryce Elder knows he can have a successful year even if he doesn’t begin the upcoming season at the Major League level.

Elder didn’t panic last year when he began the season as Triple-A Gwinnett’s Opening Day starter and that was highlighted when he was one of the eight Atlanta players selected to last year’s All-Star Game. He may have to travel a similar path this year.

Despite last year’s first-half success, he is currently battling Reynaldo López to begin the season as Atlanta’s fifth starter.

“I think [the competition] is good for me honestly,” Elder said. “You know coming into it, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to make the team. I don’t know if the word is stressful. But you’ve got to go and I think that is a positive because you’ve got to keep moving forward.”

The battle for the fifth spot unfolded as the Braves beat the Red Sox 3-2 on Thursday afternoon at JetBlue Park.

Elder limited Boston to one run and two hits over 3 1/3 innings. His six-strikeout effort was certainly his most impressive of the spring. He had allowed a pair of runs while recording just four outs in his first spring start and allowed three runs in three innings in his second outing.

“It’s just getting back into the flow of things,” Elder said. “Even today was a bit wild, but I found a way to get people out. As we get closer to the season, that’s where we’re going to go. So, I was pleased.”

This was also a good day for López, who showed why the Braves believe he can be a successful starter, despite being a successful reliever over the past few seasons. The veteran right-hander surrendered just one walk and struck out four over three scoreless innings. He has allowed just one run and three hits while totaling eight innings through three appearances this spring.

López posted a 3.02 ERA while totaling 129 appearances [just one start] over the past two seasons. This successful stretch as a reliever has helped him create a mindset he wished he had when he posted a 4.65 ERA over 65 starts for the White Sox from 2018-19.

“As a reliever, you have one inning,” López said. “So, you have to focus on every inning and every pitch. So, I was thinking, if I would have thought that way a couple years ago (as a starter) things might have been different.”

Spencer Strider has certainly proven a starter can be both durable and effective while approaching every inning with a closer’s mindset.

López is attempting to improve his changeup. But for now he continues to lean on his fastball, which can touch 100 mph, and his slider.

Even if López is effective as a starter, there is reason to be concerned about his workload. He hasn’t thrown more than 66 innings in a season since 2019. Keeping him on a starter’s schedule throughout the season seemingly wouldn’t be wise.

The Braves would also have to account for the desire to possibly use López out of the bullpen down the stretch and in the postseason. How many innings could he throw as a starter before the workload could potentially lessen his value as a high-leverage reliever?

Now that López has been stretched out, it certainly makes sense to have him begin the season as a starter. Asking him to build up as a starter again during the season would be the less optimal route.

With uncertainty also surrounding Chris Sale’s workload this season, Elder seems destined to again be a key asset within Atlanta’s rotation. Even if he begins a second straight season in Gwinnett’s rotation.

“Elder threw the ball well[,] too,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I hope they both keep throwing the ball great all spring.”

Only one of these pitchers might be in the rotation to begin the season. But if both continue to create encouragement, the Braves can only feel good about the all-important starting pitching depth they will lean on over the next six-plus months.