The Braves have had plenty to like in the back end of their bullpen this season. Even with Robert Suarez sidelined by an elbow injury and no clear timetable for his return, Atlanta still owns the third-best bullpen ERA in baseball. Dylan Lee, Raisel Iglesias and Suarez have all played major roles in that success, while Didier Fuentes and Dylan Dodd have emerged as useful surprises.
But the late-inning picture has started to shift, and Fuentes looks like the arm who deserves a bigger slice of the high-leverage work.
Iglesias has still found ways to finish games, but the recent numbers tell a messier story. Over his last 15 appearances, he has posted a 4.91 ERA with five walks, eight saves and 15 strikeouts.
The job has gotten done, just not cleanly. Part of that could be tied to the extra burden of working without Suarez around, but the stuff itself has also shown some wear.
His fastball and sinker have not been nearly as sharp as they once were. Opponents are hitting .316 against the sinker and .276 against the fastball.
His changeup, though, remains a real weapon with a 38% whiff rate. That pitch still plays.
Iglesias has also almost completely moved away from his slider, throwing it only 31 times this season. Batters have not done damage against it, but the limited usage says plenty about how much confidence he has in it right now.
That opens the door for Fuentes, who has already shown he can handle bigger moments. He picked up his second save of the season in Atlanta’s 4-1 win over the Marlins on August 5, working 1.1 innings and striking out two.
Fuentes has been excellent over his last seven games, putting up a 1.80 ERA with three walks and 15 strikeouts. His fastball has generated a 27% whiff rate on the year, and the slider has given him another level.
That breaking ball has been a real separator. Fuentes owns a 36% whiff rate and a 29.5% putaway rate on the pitch this season, and opponents are batting just .156 against it.
That’s the kind of arsenal that can hold up in the highest-pressure spots, and it’s why Atlanta has a real case to give him more chances while Suarez recovers and Iglesias works through his shaky stretch. It could also ease some of the load on Iglesias, which might help him settle back in too.
In Other News...
Braves Roster Crunch Could Push Out Familiar Names Before Seasons End
The trade deadline came and went without any movement for Ha-Seong Kim, Danny Young or Dominic Smith, but that does not mean all three are safe in Atlanta for the rest of the season. The Braves are carrying a roster that has started to tighten around healthier options and more defined roles, and for players on the margins, that usually means every day matters. Kim has been around, but his path to meaningful at-bats has been squeezed by the clubs other infield choices, while Smith has seen his role shrink as the lineup gets back to full strength and his power has not carried over.
Young is in the most obvious spot of jeopardy among the group because the Braves have not gotten the kind of relief work they were hoping for. His numbers have drifted the wrong way, and a pitching staff that needs dependable innings cannot afford too many soft spots for long. Atlanta has no obligation to make a quick move, but with the season winding down and roster spots at a premium, the pressure is building on players like these to hold their ground before the team decides it has easier options elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Added A New Arm With A Rise Fans Will Want To Follow
The Braves latest roster move brought in a pitcher whose climb has been notable for more than just the change of scenery. Tyler Uberstine came over from the Red Sox in the Eli White deal and wasted little time making his organizational debut with Atlantas Triple-A club, working a scoreless inning as he settled into a new system.
Uberstine has already reached the big leagues once with Boston, and his path has gotten more interesting this season thanks to a noticeable uptick in velocity and better results across three different Minor League stops. For a Braves pitching pipeline that is always worth tracking, he is the kind of arm who can quickly go from a transaction footnote to a name fans keep checking back on. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Were Deeper In The Ace Market Than Fans Realized
Tarik Skubals move from Detroit to the Dodgers gave the pitching market the jolt it had been waiting for, and it also confirmed just how many clubs were circling one of the winters biggest arms. The Tigers pushed the deal forward amid uncertainty over George Kirbys availability, only for Kirby to stay put with the Mariners, while teams including the Brewers, Yankees, Rays, Braves and Cubs all spent time in the mix before Los Angeles landed the left-hander.
For Atlanta, the takeaway is less about the final destination and more about how aggressively the Braves were willing to chase a top-end starter. They were not merely on the fringe of the conversation, and their involvement says plenty about how determined the front office was to fortify the rotation, even if the market ultimately broke in another direction. [Read more 🡒]