Pittsburgh's Brutal Injury Luck Takes Another Hit, and MLB's Best Team Is About to Finish Them Off

Man, watching the rest of the league, you gotta admit, some teams are just built different right now. Take Atlanta, for instance. While we're all out here bleeding green and blue, trying to make some noise, the Braves are just straight up dominating, already owning MLB's best record. And this weekend? They're looking to put the finishing touches on a brutal sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, already snagging their 18th series victory of the season after Saturday's 6-3 win. It's their third shot at a three-game sweep this year. Talk about relentless!

Atlanta's Ace Is Back on Track

The Braves are sending Bryce Elder to the mound for the finale, and the dude is dialed in. He's rocking a 5-3 record with a slick 2.63 ERA, firmly re-established in that rotation in his fifth season. Remember that rough outing against Boston on May 27, when he coughed up six runs in just over three innings? Yeah, that's in the rearview mirror. Elder bounced back big time, shutting down the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, giving up just three runs over 6 2/3 innings. That's the ninth time he's gone at least six frames this season, showing that real grit you love to see. He even admitted, "My sinker wasn't moving and I've never had my sinker not move like that, especially since that's the pitch I probably throw more than any other pitch. Sandy did a heck of a job getting me through that. It was just kind of mixing stuff and navigating through the lineup." Against the Pirates specifically, his career record is 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA, though he did turn in a quality start last year against them, so don't expect him to be complacent. Meanwhile, Atlanta's Mauricio Dubon is still mashing, even if he didn't homer Saturday, he still ripped a pair of hits in their nine-hit attack. Dude's been on fire, filling in at center field because Michael Harris II is dealing with some back tightness.

Pittsburgh's Nightmare Continues

On the other side, Pittsburgh is rolling with Bubba Chandler, who sits at a tough 2-6 with a 4.89 ERA. He actually snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Houston on Tuesday, going five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. Pirates manager Don Kelly gave him credit, saying, "It could have been completely different if Bubba gets out of his rhythm and started to press in the moment. He stayed with it. He continued to attack the strike zone and got through five innings. He gave us a chance to get the win and got the win." But let's be real, the guy's only pitched into the sixth inning twice, which puts some serious stress on that bullpen. Chandler did have an absolute gem against the Braves last September as a rookie, giving up just one hit in 5 2/3 innings in a 3-1 road win, but that feels like a lifetime ago. Adding insult to injury, literally, Pirates third baseman Tyler Callihan finally got his first start since May 5, 2025, after breaking his forearm in a gnarly collision at Truist Park last year. He even grabbed an RBI double. But then, in the ninth inning Saturday, Brandon Lowe fouled a ball right off his right kneecap and had to be helped off the field. Manager Kelly was clearly shaken, telling reporters, "It was a scary moment. He's getting checked out by the staff. Hopefully, we'll have something soon. ... It looked like right around the knee. I know it didn't hit his leg guard, so I'm hoping for the best there." So, here we are, watching one of the league's top dogs flex all over a team that just can't catch a break. Will Atlanta complete the sweep and show the rest of MLB exactly why they're the team to beat? Or can the Pirates, battered and bruised, somehow pull off a shocker? Tune in Sunday, because this one promises to be a wild ride.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.