Braves bullpen struggling, ERA rising steadily
WASHINGTON – After three Braves relievers gave up six runs and three homers in three innings of Friday's 9-2 loss to the Nationals, the 13 homers allowed in 93 innings by Atlanta's bullpen were the second-most in the National League.
Only the Brewers had given up more homers (15) by relief pitchers than the Braves, who saw rookies Brandon Cunniff and Williams Perez (in his major league debut) each give up a multi-run homer Friday along with veteran Trevor Cahill, who continued to struggle mightily since being dumped from the rotation.
Atlanta’s bullpen entered Saturday with a 4.74 ERA that was the third-highest in the league, better than only the Rockies (5.10) and Reds (5.32), who play in hitter-friendly home ballparks. They poured gas on the flames Friday, turning a 3-2 Nationals lead after six innings into a blowout.
“It is what it is, but we’ve got to figure out how to get them there,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the bullpen. “Everybody’s got pieces that you pitch when you’re up, and pieces that you pitch when you’re down (trailing). Our challenge is, the guys you want to pitch when you’re down, you want them to hold the other team at bay, keep (the lead) to two runs, give the offense a chance to catch up.
“We’ve got to figure out which are the pieces we can do that with. That’s where we are, that’s the stage of our (franchise).”
The Braves overall 4.30 ERA was the fourth-highest in the NL, ahead of the Phillies (4.34), Brewers (4.79) and Rockies (5.34).
Cahill has continued to slump since being sent to the bullpen.
In six games (three starts) with the Braves, he was 0-3 with a 9.19 ERA and .353 opponents’ average before Saturday, having allowed 24 hits, 16 earned runs, two homers and eight walks with five strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings. In three relief appearances before Saturday, he had allowed a .474 opponents’ batting average (9-for-19).
