Braves Retain Struggling Closer Raisel Iglesias Amid Bullpen Woes

The Atlanta Braves are facing significant bullpen challenges, primarily due to the struggles of closer Raisel Iglesias, who has seen a sharp rise in his ERA and home runs allowed this season compared to his strong 2024 performance. Iglesias has given up six home runs in just over 15 innings, with most damage coming from a misexecuted slider, which has seen opposing hitters bat .556 against it, a stark contrast to last year's .163 average against the pitch. Despite these difficulties, Braves manager Brian Snitker remains committed to Iglesias, citing his previous track record and the lack of better alternatives in the bullpen, such as Pierce Johnson. The bullpen issues are compounded by the absence of key relievers Joe Jiménez and A.J. Minter, and the Braves have yet to find internal solutions, increasing pressure on general manager Alex Anthopoulos to make trades soon. Although the Braves' offense has underperformed, especially early in the season, the team is hopeful that improvements will come with the return of key players and better consistency. Overall, the Braves' ability to stabilize their bullpen and especially to get Iglesias back to form is crucial for their chances to rebound and contend in the NL East.