It took extra innings and a wild pitch for the Atlanta Braves to win over the struggling Pirates on Saturday afternoon. Road games have not been very kind to Atlanta, as they are 7-14 compared to 12-6 at home. It has been a bizarre start to the 2025 season.
The Braves are also 5-0 in extra-inning games after Saturday's contest. AJ Smith-Shawver had a pretty good start over 5.2 innings with one run allowed, two walks, and seven strikeouts. He's starting to figure things out, and it's encouraging to see.
Atlanta's bullpen did a good job, but Rafael Montero and Daysbel Hernandez struggled a bit. This allowed the Pirates to tie things up in the eighth inning. Hernandez, who got an opportunity in a high-leverage situation over Raisel Iglesias, issued four walks. Somehow, he didn't give up a run (he allowed the game-tying single in the eighth, but that run was charged to Montero).
Braves reliever Scott Blewett has been a revelation for the bullpen
However, it's Scott Blewett who deserves a lot of credit for that win as he pitched two scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and one strikeout. He has become an absolute revelation for the Braves since they acquired him from the Orioles.
He's pitched well and has given the Braves consecutive appearances with two innings pitched. His ERA now stands at 2.79 over 19.1 innings pitched, six walks, and 19 strikeouts. The right-hander has an impressive Statcast page that explains how he's succeeded without a high-velocity fastball and less-than-stellar hard-hit rate.
Blewett has above-average numbers with his chase, strikeout, and walk percentages. But more impressively, his whiff, barrel, and ground ball rates tell the story of his success. Most of that success has come thanks to his slider and splitter.
Opponents are only batting .235 against the slider and .118 against the splitter. The slider is producing a 38.7% whiff rate against opposing teams. It's a good thing these pitches are doing so well because teams are crushing his low 90s fastball with a .316 average.
So while he doesn't have the most velocity and gaudy strikeout numbers, Blewett has been a solid addition for the Braves bullpen. He is a great long relief option and has been exactly what Atlanta needed him to be.