Raisel Iglesias has done just about everything a closer can do for the Braves this season. The numbers are loud: a 1.27 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, six walks and 31 strikeouts across 28.1 innings. He’s also been perfect in the save column, converting all 16 of his chances while keeping opposing hitters in check.
Even with a fastball averaging just 94.6 mph, hitters are only batting .190 against it. That kind of effectiveness has pushed Iglesias into elite company among relievers, with his 1.27 ERA ranking fifth among qualified bullpen arms. Robert Suarez sits atop that list with a 0.56 ERA over 32 innings.
Iglesias also reached a notable milestone with his latest save against the Giants. That gave him 113 saves as a Brave, moving him past Mark Wohlers for fourth in franchise history. Only Gene Garber (141), John Smoltz (154) and Craig Kimbrel (186) have more in an Atlanta uniform.
For all of that production, though, Iglesias still has never appeared in an All-Star Game. His career line is strong enough to make that omission stand out: a 2.84 ERA, 269 saves and 900 strikeouts. Yet even with his season putting him squarely in the conversation, a first All-Star nod may still be out of reach.
The issue is simple enough. The National League has a crowded field of relievers putting together big seasons, and MLB’s rule about each team being represented can complicate things.
Atlanta is likely to send a couple of position players, while Chris Sale could also get a nod. Suarez was another possible choice, but he is injured, which could open the door for Iglesias.
He’s not the only Braves reliever with a case. Dylan Lee has been excellent, and Didier Fuentes has a shot too with a 1.53 ERA over 29 innings. Beyond Atlanta, Iglesias is competing with names like Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, Huascar Brazobán, Yuki Matsui and Tanner Scott.
So the argument for Iglesias is strong. It may even be deserved. But with so few spots available, especially in a year when teams usually send their lone representative from the pitching side, the path is still narrow.
There’s also the bigger picture. It would be nice to see Iglesias make an All-Star Game at least once before his career ends. Whether he keeps pitching after this season is unclear, but if he does continue, the Braves would have every reason to want him back.
He’s been more than just a shutdown closer. He’s been a steady presence for a young pitching staff, and Fuentes in particular can only benefit from being around him.
Iglesias understands that role, too. “They are the ones to whom I need to pass on those positive experiences so they can learn and stay on the right track for the years they have left to play here.”
That kind of presence is part of what makes him such a strong fit in Atlanta. It’s also why his All-Star case feels so compelling, even if the numbers alone may not be enough to get him there.
In Other News...
Braves Just Made Another Telling Move As Offensive Frustration Grows
As the Braves keep searching for a steadier offensive mix amid injuries and uneven production, they made another low-risk depth move by adding Andrew McCutchen on a minor league deal after his release from the Rangers. The veteran outfielder and designated hitter is a familiar name with a long track record, and Atlanta is evidently willing to see whether there is still something useful left in the bat as the lineup tries to settle down.
McCutchens arrival came alongside a separate roster shuffle that also brought INF Jim Jarvis back into the picture and sent INF Rowdy Tellez off the active roster. It is the kind of transaction that says plenty about where the Braves are right now: still looking for answers, still testing options, and still trying to find a combination that can ease the frustration building around the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Find One Reason For Hope In Another Costly Loss
The Braves latest trip through a rough stretch ended with an 11-5 loss to the Cardinals, their 14th defeat in 19 games, and the familiar problem areas showed up again. The bullpen was stretched thin before the game even began, with Raisel Iglesias and Dylan Dodd having pitched the previous two nights and Robert Suarez still sidelined until after the All-Star break, leaving Atlanta to piece together innings in a hurry.
Hurston Waldrep provided the one encouraging note from the night. In his second big league appearance and first start of the season, he was tagged early but settled in enough to give the Braves something to build on, even if the outing still came with an early mistake that changed the tone. For a club searching for any sign of stability, Waldreps ability to recover may have mattered more than the final score, even as the larger issues kept piling up around him. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Shakeup Raises Another Big Question About Late Innings
The Braves kept tinkering with their bullpen mix Wednesday, activating left-hander Danny Young from the 60-day injured list and bringing back right-hander Anthony Molina as they continue to sort through the late-inning picture. Youngs return gives Atlanta another left-handed option after a long rehab stretch, while Molina is back for another look as the club tries to find steadier coverage out of the pen.
The moves came with a cost, as Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment after a rough run of recent outings, and this is his second such move of the season. Atlanta also had to clear another roster spot for Molina, a reminder that every bullpen adjustment now seems to carry a second question about who gets squeezed out next. [Read more 🡒]