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Atlanta Braves: Who belongs in the bullpen, and who needs to be replaced

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: Manager Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves relieves pitcher Chad Sobotka #61 during the seventh inning of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: Manager Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves relieves pitcher Chad Sobotka #61 during the seventh inning of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 03: Pitcher Wes  Parsons #67 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the sixth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs on April 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 03: Pitcher Wes  Parsons #67 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the sixth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs on April 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

You can stay

There really aren’t too many arms in the Atlanta Braves bullpen that I trust right now. But the one I trust the most at the moment is Wes Parsons.

He’s proven to be very reliable giving up just 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks over 6.2 innings pitched with 7 strikeouts.

I don’t know where he was on Tuesday night, but I would have rather seen him in the game than everyone else that was used in that seventh inning.

I can’t believe I am saying this, but Luke Jackson is safe as well.

Lately, he has been the guy to come in and put out fires, which just shows you the state of our bullpen.

But Jackson has been very solid after that debacle against the Phillies, and he now has a 3.86 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts.

I would still rather he be used in more low-leverage situations in the sixth or seventh, but as it stands right now, he is the fireman.

Jesse Biddle gets to stay as well. I know he was part of that disaster in the seventh on Tuesday as he failed to record an out, but he’s proven to be pretty reliable.

Last year he had a 3.11 ERA in 63.2 innings pitched with a K/9 of 9.5 and a BB/9 of 4.4.

So far this season he has an ERA of 3.12 in 8.2 innings with 8 strikeouts and just 2 walks.

A.J. Minter is safe, but even he’s living on the edge. Right now he may be safe only because he has the most experience as a closer. But his WHIP of 2.14 so far this season is a problem he needs to correct soon.

If Arodys Vizcaino is healthy, and that’s a big if, then he’s safe as well.

And Josh Tomlin has been effective when used, but for whatever reason, he’s hardly ever used.

Point being, even these guys who are safe I don’t fully trust. And they should be guys who are used in the sixth or seventh innings, and not guys to put out fires.

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