There is not much to complain about the Atlanta Braves' ongoing series against the Phillies so far. The Braves entered the weekend needing a strong performance to set the tone for the season early on, and Atlanta has thoroughly outclassed the Phillies through the first two games on both sides of the ball. However, a cause for concern did arise on Saturday night when, in a close game, the Braves did not turn to Raisel Iglesias.
So far, the Braves' decision to bring Iglesias back had looked incredibly wise. Combining forces with new addition, Robert Suarez, Iglesias has yet to give up an earned run in seven appearances this season, with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. As a result, there was some understandable concern when it was Suarez, not Iglesias, that Atlanta turned to to lock down the save on Saturday.
Thankfully, there is an explanation for Iglesias' absence that, for the moment, is relatively innocuous and little cause for concern going forward. According to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, Iglesias slept on his shoulder wrong the night before, so Atlanta decided to give him the night off. At the moment, Iglesias is still available to throw on Sunday if need be.
Iglesias slept on his shoulder wrong last night. That's why he was unavailable tonight. He may be available if needed tomorrow night
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 19, 2026
It sounds like Raisel Iglesias' shoulder will be just fine, but Braves fans should still keep an eye out
There is no indication that Iglesias is dealing with a more serious injury concern, and Suarez, who seems like Iglesias' heir anyway, was excellent filling in. We have all been on the road somewhere and sleeping wrong in an unfamiliar bed. It can be tough to get comfortable, and you are just stiff once you wake up and need a day to get right again.
At least, that is the hope. Remember, this is the Atlanta Braves we are talking about. This team's luck with injuries going on two calendar years has been historically terrible. Until fans see Iglesias back out there dominating the late innings, there is going to be some concern that something more serious is wrong with Iglesias.
However, this whole situation highlights the wisdom in the Braves' offseason. Iglesias was very uneven last year and isn't getting any younger. By snagging Suarez when they did, they supplemented their current bullpen with one of the league's best power arms and protected themselves against Iglesias regressing. Even if there is something truly wrong with the Braves' closer, and there is no indication there is, the Braves are well-equipped to handle it.
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