Ronald Acuña Jr. made a dramatic return to the Braves lineup on Friday, crushing a leadoff homer on the first pitch he saw in over a year. But despite the electrifying start, Atlanta’s offense stalled again and a familiar issue reemerged late in the game.
With the score tied in the ninth, manager Brian Snitker once again turned to veteran closer Raisel Iglesias, who gave up a crushing go-ahead home run to Manny Machado. The Braves lost 2-1 to the Padres, and Iglesias’ ERA ballooned to 5.75 after allowing runs in five of his last seven appearances.
Once a dependable All-Star, Iglesias has seen a sharp decline in effectiveness. His fastball velocity is down, his strikeout rate has dropped, and opponents are slugging nearly .500 against his heater. Worse yet, his once-reliable slider has become a liability hitters are slugging an astronomical 1.833 against it this season.
Despite the clear signs of regression and the Braves falling behind rivals in the competitive NL East, Snitker remains unwilling to adjust his bullpen strategy. Critics argue it’s time to either give Iglesias a break on the IL or move him out of high-leverage situations in favor of more effective arms like Daysbel Hernandez.
Snitker’s unwavering trust in his veteran players has been a hallmark of his managerial style. But with the season entering a critical phase, that loyalty may be putting the Braves’ postseason hopes at risk.
