The Atlanta Braves continue to reach new lows when it comes to the bullpen and rotation offering any level of consistent production. Monday was the latest example of this with Spencer Strider and the Atlanta bullpen imploding in a 13-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Playing against one of the league's worst teams and still being unable to get anyone out served as a reminder of how much work there is to be done in the 2026 offseason.
Even as Atlanta's offense is starting to show its ceiling, there are a number of concerning signs that continue to stress a tired fan base. At the top of this list is Strider's continued trend of giving up consistent homers and not stringing together anything close to consistent outings. The Braves were hoping that a lost season would serve as a chance for the ace to rediscover his form.
Over the last month, it has been the complete opposite.
The bullpen struggles aren't anything new, with the franchise continually shuffling pieces throughout the year. Claiming other teams' failures in hopes of discovering bargain bin gold, the Braves continue to embrace this. Even in the final month of the season, manager Brian Snitker still has zero idea who he can rely on any given night.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Dane Dunning and RHP Connor Seabold to Atlanta, after optioning RHP Daysbel Hernández and RHP Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 19, 2025
Braves Make Drastic Bullpen Changes After Latest Implosion
On the heels of last night's failure, the Braves posted the latest roster moves, calling up Connor Seabold and Dane Dunning. Both are struggling reclamation projects that haven't given any reasonable impression that things are going to turn around in Atlanta. With this in mind, the Braves should continue to expect more of what fans endured Tuesday night.
Of course, call-ups can't be made without demotions, meaning the Braves sent righties Daysbel Hernandez and Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Gwinnett to clear room for Dunning and Seabold.
The quality of the offense the Braves are facing truly doesn't matter. Atlanta's pen and rotation are capable of giving up huge innings to any Major League team and arguably even lower. It is a bad group that the Braves refused to address, and it has cost the team a lost season.
As the offense begins to hit its stride, the rotation and pen are doing their best to remind fans that even if the offense had maintained current levels of production, the season wasn't going anywhere. The Braves front office failed to fix obvious problems, and it has cost the team a lost season. One that should serve as a lesson as to what must be done at the end of 2025.