Braves Starter Bryce Elder Sidelined 3-4 Weeks Following Knee Surgery

Atlanta Braves right-hander Bryce Elder is expected to miss three to four weeks after undergoing surgery on his right knee in Dallas on Tuesday.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder underwent surgery on his right knee in Dallas on Tuesday and is expected to miss three to four weeks, according to manager Walt Weiss. The right-hander, who has posted an 8-8 record with a 4.11 ERA across 26 starts this season, opted for the procedure to address discomfort he has managed since the All-Star break. Elder currently ranks second on the team with 15 quality starts, trailing only Chris Sale.

Manager Walt Weiss indicated the surgery was necessary for Elder to have a chance at participating in the postseason. To fill the vacancy in the six-man rotation, the Braves will turn to Reynaldo López, who is scheduled to start Wednesday. López returns from a six-week stint on the injured list caused by left knee inflammation, having recently completed three rehab starts with Triple-A Gwinnett.

López enters the rotation with a 4-3 record and a 3.64 ERA recorded over 24 appearances this season. Elder traveled from Philadelphia to Dallas for the operation after reaching a point where he could no longer pitch through the injury.