There have been blown leads,and then there was what the Braves’ bullpen did in the top of the ninth inning yesterday. It was the first time the Braves blew a six-run lead in the ninth inning and lost since July 17, 1973, against the Mets, which snapped a string of 766 wins with a six-run lead after eight innings, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
On paper Atlanta’s bullpen has been solid this season as they’re sporting a 3.90 ERA, but the Braves’ bullpen, including closer Raisel Iglesias, has had their fair share of struggles this season, and earlier today our very own Braves’ insider, reporter, and host of From The Diamond Grant McAuley joined The Morning Shift and explained why he thinks Atlanta’s bullpen has struggled this season.
“When you look at how the Braves’ bullpen as currently constructed is having some trouble with late leads it really points back to the winter..”. McAuley said.
Grant points to Atlanta losing set up man AJ Minter to free agency, and losing their other high leverage bullpen arm Joe Jimenez to a knee injury, and the Braves’ failure to find “proven alternatives to those two very important arms” as the main reason for the bullpen struggling the way it is now. Grant also points out that closer Raisel Iglesias' falters have thrown the Braves' bullpen in "disarray" as well.
Now add in the fact that Daysbel Hernandez is going on the IL, and that has Atlanta’s bullpen in some real trouble, so if the additions of former Brave Craig Kimbrel and Dylan Dodd, who were both just recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, don’t help turn things around and Atlanta’s bats continue to falter too, the Braves’ 9-16 record in one run games will probably get worse along with the 2025 season.
