Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Jason Grilli would be the primary closer and Jim Johnson the backup closer after Craig Kimbrel was traded Sunday. Both Grilli and Johnson are former All-Star closers.
“Right now we’re going to give Jason the opportunity to be the closer, and Johnson will be the other guy, if Jason goes two in a row and he can’t go a third, then Jason will be the guy,” Gonzalez said before Monday’s 2-1 opening win against the Marlins, when Grilli pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts for the save.
“The reason I like that (arrangement) is Johnson can go multiple innings — in that seventh inning, gives you one out in the seventh he’ll go back out in the eighth, that type of guy. He’s able to do that more often.”
Johnson then did precisely that in the opener, getting the last out of the seventh inning and pitching a perfect eighth to get the lead to Grilli.
“Again, I told the club, you feel comfortable,” Gonzalez said of the late-innings situation, despite Kimbrel’s departure. “JJ’s a season removed from a 50-save season. Grilli’s done it and done it in a pennant chase with the Pirates. So we’re in good shape.”
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