With the trade deadline having now passed, what is the Atlanta Braves bullpen outlook for the remainder of the 2022 season?
Looking back at last October, there is no denying how big of a role that the Atlanta Braves bullpen played in their run to the World Series. As the club prepares to make a run toward October this season as well, the Braves bullpen is likely expected to play a similar role in that playoff chase and potential postseason once again.
With the trade deadline having now passed as well, why not take a wider look to see which names could see a notable amount of time in the Braves bullpen across the remainder of the season, and what potential role each could play?
Atlanta Braves bullpen outlook for remainder of 2022 season
Closer – Kenley Jansen
When projecting the Atlanta Braves bullpen for the next two months, this is 100% the easiest choice to make. Jansen was signed as a free agent in the offseason to be the Atlanta Braves closer, and has done nothing up to this point to relinquish that role.
Also, it certainly won’t hurt to have a closer with the amount of postseason experience of Jansen come late-September/playoff time either (2.13 ERA with 92:18 K:BB across 63.1 IP).
Set Up – AJ Minter, Raisel Iglesias, Kirby Yates
The most notable changes pre-and-post trade deadline in the Braves bullpen could come in the seventh-and-eighth innings, in particular when it comes to the set up options. The main reason for this is due to some new faces joining the team, but the lone face that should not change in this role however is Minter.
As for the other two names that could see time in a potential late inning role, Iglesias was acquired from the Angels at the trade deadline, while Yates is nearing a season debut after working his way back from injury. Both right-handers have a significant amount of late-inning experience in their careers, and both could play key roles in the seventh-or-eighth innings from now to October.
Middle Innings – Collin McHugh, Tyler Matzek, Dylan Lee, Jackson Stephens
The middle innings such as the fifth, sixth, and possibly seventh should not change much, with McHugh, Matzek, Lee, and Stephens all set to play key roles across the remainder of the season. Don’t necessarily count out any of McHugh, Matzek, or Lee potentially receiving looks in the eighth inning at some point either, as well as being used for potential lefty-vs-lefty/righty-vs-righty matchups.
In addition to those eight, don’t be surprised if others such as Darren O’Day make an impact as well, along with Spencer Strider, should he make the move to the bullpen at some point. Regardless of that though, it’s clear that with these eight names listed above, the Braves will have one of the better bullpens in baseball from now to October.