The Atlanta Braves Bullpen Has Stepped Up in a Big Way

Despite being without two of their top guys in the bullpen, Atlanta Braves relievers have done a tremendous job early in the season.

Despite being without two of their top guys in the bullpen, Atlanta Braves relievers have done a tremendous job early in the season.

Coming into the season, many assumed the top four arms in the Braves' bullpen would be Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Joe Jimenez, and Collin McHugh. Atlanta started the season with Iglesias on the IL and McHugh joined him after 3 outings that were not very McHugh-like with a 1.91 WHIP. 

Jimenez, who was slow to start in Spring Training after offseason back surgery, has yet to look anything like what the Braves thought they traded for and is perhaps the last man in the bullpen right now. Minter is still Minter, but he's the only one of those four healthy and producing right now in high-leverage situations. 

Something else we talked about coming into the season was the depth of this Braves team -- particularly the bullpen -- and they have been put to the test early on. While the rotation has been banged up as well and starters haven't worked very deep into games, the bullpen has had to throw 64 innings already this year -- fourth most in all of baseball. 

Not only is the bullpen shorthanded but they've been overworked as well. 

And yet, they rank fifth in MLB in ERA at 2.95, second in WHIP at 1.02, and third in average against at .197. In those 64 innings pitched by the bullpen this year, they've allowed just 45 hits. 

This bullpen is perhaps not as dominating as others with a K/9 that ranks 21st in MLB. 

But one thing they've done well -- unlike the starting rotation -- is not walk a ton of batters. They're fifth in all of baseball with a BB/9 of 2.81; whereas the starting rotation is 26th at 4.28. 

Nick Anderson has been a huge bright spot in the bullpen with a 2.35 ERA in 7.2 innings. He leads all Braves' relievers with a WHIP of 0.52 and 11 strikeouts. 

Even though he gave up that game-tying home run on Sunday, Michael Tonkin has been huge as well with a 0.72 WHIP in 9.2 innings -- the most innings thrown by any reliever this year. 

The ageless wonder, Jesse Chavez, continues to get it done in a Braves uniform with 7 scoreless innings to start the year with no walks and just 4 hits allowed to go along with 7 strikeouts. 

Hopefully with the starting rotation getting healthy there will be less of a need for these guys on a nightly basis, but there is no doubt these relievers have stepped up early in the season and are a big reason for the team's 12-4 start. 

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