LOS ANGELES — The Atlanta Braves will once again be without a pair of starters in right-hander Bryce Elder and left-hander Martin Perez when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series which begins on the road Saturday.
Neither pitcher was on the active roster when the Braves eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-three wild-card series.
Outfielder Lane Thomas also missed the wild-card round with a left intercostal strain, with manager Walt Weiss optimistic he will be available for the best-of-five series against the Dodgers.
Elder, 27, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 8 and has been throwing live batting practice sessions. He was 8-8 with a 4.11 ERA in 26 starts this season. The 2023 All-Star is 32-32 with a 4.46 ERA in 105 appearances (104 starts) for the Braves.
“We’re hoping, if we advance, that Bryce is in that conversation,” Weiss said Friday about possibly moving on to the NL Championship Series. “He looks really good. It’s pretty amazing how far along he is after his surgery.”
Perez, 35, went on the injured list retroactive to Sept. 21 with lower back inflammation. He went 9-9 with a 3.04 ERA in 30 appearances (26 starts) this season. In 15 career seasons with seven different clubs, he is 100-102 with a 4.30 ERA in 355 appearances (305 starts).
“I think he’s in the same category as Bryce where, if we advance, there’s a chance there,” Weiss said.
Thomas, 31, was acquired by the Braves in a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 2 and was a combined .224 hitter with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 118 total games this season.
