Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino is struggling with his command, and it’s causing him to walk batters in late game situations.
Since May 29, Vizcaino has walked 10 batters in 12 2/3 innings. In that span, he has given up six runs and 10 hits.
“He is going through a rough time,” Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. “Hitters and pitchers go through it too. It is part of the baseball thing that keeps us coming back. I just think he might be in one of those spells that everyone gets into in every aspect of the game.”
Vizcaino’s lack of command hurt him in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Indians.
“Last night was a tough game for me,” Vizcaino said. “It was a tie game and I tried to find the zone but I gave up two walks to the first guys and after that a base hit.”
Those two walks allowed the Indians to score three runs in the ninth inning. He was charged with two hits, three runs (one earned) in his inning of work.
The Braves say that there is nothing mechanically wrong with Vizcaino. He says that he will be able to go should his number be called on Wednesday.
“I will be ready if they need me again today,” he said. “If it is a save situation, I will be in the game and it’s no problem for me.”
Since his return from an MLB suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in 2015, he had posted a 1.49 ERA and .204 opponents’ average over 56 appearances from his return in early July through May 29, when he started his current slump.
Those numbers put him in All-Star game consideration but now Snitker hopes that Vizcaino can just get back on track.
“He will fight through it and he will be fine,” Snitker said. “He is a confident young man and this is part of it.”
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