Despite playing in consistently high-leverage games, Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker opted to give Raisel Iglesias two days of rest. The decision was based on the closer's consistent struggles in the first weeks of the season. Atlanta's closer being the weakest part of the bullpen wasn't a struggle the team anticipated.
It's safe to say the two days off weren't the cure Atlanta was hoping to find. Against an underwhelming Pittsburgh offense, the closer stepped into the ninth inning, being asked to force extra innings. Iglesias would quickly load the bases and lose a game that would have put the Braves at .5000 for the first time in the 2025 season.
Raisel Iglesias' Continued Struggles Demand the Braves Make a Change
The quickest potential fix for the Braves could be bringing up former closer Craig Kimbrel as a late-inning option. Demoting Iglesias to an earlier role until the pitcher has righted the ship is a must. Atlanta is in no position to be giving away games at the level their closer currently is.
Another answer could be yet another trade with the Angels, bringing back former Atlanta closer Kenley Jansen. It isn't the first time the Braves have turned to Jansen when they couldn't trust their last closing option. Pivoting away from Will Smith, the team signed Jansen and brought in Iglesias as an elite setup option.
This allowed the team to let Jansen leave in free agency and move Iglesias into the closer role, where he has thrived for the last two seasons. Perhaps bringing back Jansen and allowing Iglesias to take a step back will help the reliever find the form that has eluded him throughout the 2025 season.
Even when Iglesias is getting outs, the ball is consistently being hit hard and put in play. The swing-and-miss dominance Atlanta has enjoyed in recent seasons simply appears to have ceased to exist. With this in mind, the Braves cannot hesitate to turn to Craig Kimbrel and begin searching for answers on the trade market.