How many 21-year-olds could have done what Didier Fuentes did on Sunday night? The Atlanta Braves' rookie phenom came through clutch in the Braves' pivotal Game Two victory, tossing 3.2 innings of magnificent relief. Fuentes gave Walt Weiss more than he could ever dreamed of on Sunday night, and simulatenously proved he is one Atlanta's best high-leverage options.
Entering the game, plenty of debate surrounded Atlanta's decision to push Chris Sale back to a Game Three start. However, that decision now looks brilliant as the Braves head back to Atlanta in a 1-1 series with all the momentum they could have hoped for.
The tightly contested Game Two had numerous key moments, but none were more impactful than Weiss' decision to show a ton of faith in young Fuentes. Every time we thought Fuentes was about to get some well deserved handshakes, Weiss asked for more from the rookie pitcher. And time and time again, Fuentes delivered.
Didier Fuentes, 2Ks in the 8th. pic.twitter.com/wBNb5G3ZMM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 5, 2026
Didier Fuentes was a rockstar in Game Two, making Walt Weiss look like a genius in the process
Fuentes developed into one of Weiss' most trusted pitchers throughout the regular season. However, his 2026 postseason got off to a shaky start in the Wild Card series. Those unexpected struggles against Philadelphia didn't shake Fuentes' confidence, as the 21-year-old looked like a man on a mission in Game Two against the Dodgers.
Weiss knew he would have to outs wherever he could, when he announced Ray Kerr as the starter for Sunday's game. That problem only intensified when the "bulk guy" Grant Holmes recorded just two outs. That's when Fuentes came to the rescue.
Looking to bridge the gap to closer Raisel Iglesias, Fuentes had to navigate a talented Dodgers lineup in an uncomfortably close game. Not only did Fuentes do his job, but he found a way to get 11 consecutive outs before surrendering his first baserunner. Fuentes recorded more than nine outs just once throughout the 2026 regular season; it occurred during his season debut on March 29th against the Royals.
The Braves used Fuentes for multi-inning relief appearances plenty in the regular season, but it was rare that they pushed him past two innings. Credit to Walt Weiss for recognizing how well Fuentes was throwing the baseball on Sunday and continuing to ride the hot hand. Now the Braves head back to Atlanta with their ace on the mound and some newfound confidence in one of the biggest arms in their bullpen.
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