Braves Blank Athletics in Series Opener

Bryce Elder, Atlanta bullpen combine for shutout win over visiting Oakland

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:25am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, green, and orange, conceptually representing the dynamic action of a baseball game.A cubist interpretation of the Braves' shutout victory over the Athletics, capturing the game's intensity and movement through a fragmented visual style.Atlanta Today

Bryce Elder threw six scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves' bullpen completed the shutout in a 4-0 win over the Oakland Athletics in the opening game of their three-game series. Mauricio Dubon drove in three runs for the Braves, who have allowed only six runs through their first four games of the season.

Why it matters

The Braves' dominant pitching performance against the winless Athletics to start the season highlights Atlanta's strong start and the Athletics' continued struggles, as Oakland looks to bounce back from a difficult 2025 campaign.

The details

Elder (1-0) allowed five hits and one walk, striking out five batters over his six scoreless innings. The Braves' bullpen of Aaron Bummer, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias combined for three more scoreless frames to complete the shutout. Dubon, acquired in an offseason trade with the Astros, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Braves' offense.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Over his last eight starts, Elder is 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA and seven quality starts.

The players

Bryce Elder

The Braves' starting pitcher who threw six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out five batters.

Mauricio Dubon

The Braves' outfielder who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, raising his batting average to .400 on the young season.

Jacob Lopez

The Athletics' starting pitcher who allowed three runs on five hits and five walks over four innings.

Aaron Bummer

The Braves' relief pitcher who worked a scoreless seventh inning.

Raisel Iglesias

The Braves' relief pitcher who made his season debut with a scoreless ninth inning.

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What they’re saying

“Our pitching has been outstanding to start the season. Bryce set the tone tonight and the bullpen did a great job finishing it off.”

— Brian Snitker, Braves Manager

“We've got to find a way to get the bats going. Can't win games if we can't score any runs.”

— Mark Kotsay, Athletics Manager

What’s next

The Braves and Athletics will continue their three-game series on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:20 PM ET.

The takeaway

The Braves' dominant pitching performance, led by Bryce Elder and a lockdown bullpen, has set the tone early in the season as Atlanta looks to build on its success. Meanwhile, the winless Athletics continue to search for answers offensively as they try to avoid falling further behind in the AL West standings.