Nicolas Henderson-Flickr
The Atlanta Braves are currently sitting at 42-47, good for third place in the NL East. Bullpen woes and offensive setbacks have been the nagging pains of the first half of the Braves’ 2015 season. Now, without Jason Grilli, the centerpiece and closer of the Braves’ bullpen, things are about to get tough. Or are they?
Through 89 games, Atlanta’s bullpen has lost 21 games (most in the MLB), and have collectively accumulated a 4.40 ERA (2nd worst in the MLB). Teams have knocked around the Bravos’ ‘pen for a .430 slugging percentage, and have ruined 15 save opportunities so far this year. These are both league-worsts in the National League. These stats are horrid, to say the least. No general manager would allow this to go on very long, and, just as one might have expected, John Hart has been on the phone.
During the All-Star break, Hart signed a key piece to what could be a resurgent second-half Braves’ bullpen in Jason Frasor, who was released by the Kansas City Royals in order to make room on their roster. Frasor has a career-best 1.54 ERA so far this year through 23.1 innings of work with Kansas City. This is better than any current Braves’ pitcher with at least 40 innings pitched this season, and by a sizeable margin. Frasor is 37 years old, but has shown no signs of aging through the way he has pitched. He will for sure be a key piece to the Braves’ bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Braves fans should also be excited for the replacement closer to be found in another veteran, Jim Johnson. Johnson has been the anchor for the Braves’ bullpen in non-save situations, pitching to the tune of a 2.09 ERA, the best in the bullpen. Fans may remember the 2012 and 2013 seasons, when he saved 51 and 50 games, respectively. This is the type of pitching Johnson is still capable of, even as he pushes into his mid-30s. He will be a fine replacement for Jason Grilli, who ruptured his left achilles just a few days ago.
These bullpen adjustments, coupled with the return of slugger and fan-favorite, Freddie Freeman, are exactly why the Braves are not to be counted out of the division race just yet. The Braves’ lineup is clicking, and the bullpen’s gears are turning. It’s only a matter of time before things began to look bright for the club, even if it’s just a Wild Card contention. This 2015 Braves squad is capable of playing good, quality baseball, and fans better be ready to see it.
Tyler Wilson is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on twitter and like us on Facebook.