The Atlanta Braves have to hope closer Raisel Iglesias has turned a corner after closing out the Washington Nationals for a series win on Thursday. The closer's consistent level of struggle had left some speculation that the Braves might look elsewhere for answers. Whether it is Pierce Johnson, Daysbel Hernandez, or the return of current minor leaguer Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta needed an answer. The team could still find itself searching for that answer despite Thursday's solid outing.
Iglesias has already blown away last year's home runs allowed and continues to consistently allow hard contact. One save is far from enough evidence to trust a veteran who has given up five earned runs in his last four outings — a stretch that upped his ERA to 5.71 and notably included costing Atlanta a win early in the homestand.
Braves' Raisel Iglesias Trust is Misplaced
One potential fix could be bringing back former Atlanta closer Kenley Jansen. While the veteran has met some recent struggles, his performance has been far more consistent than what Iglesias has offered. The Angels have a noted trading relationship with Atlanta as well, already making one deal this season. With this in mind, Jansen could become cheap insurance in case Iglesias isn't able to correct early struggles.
This gives the team far more depth and would allow the Braves to put Craig Kimbrel in a middle innings role, which is better suited for the former closer at this stage of his career. Daysbel Hernandez, Craig Kimbrel, and Pierce Johnson would be your setup options with Kenley Jansen and Raisel Iglesias as potential closers based on who Brian Snitker trusts more.
Dylan Lee is a great situational left, and Scott Blewett has more than earned the long relief role. It is a cheap bullpen fix that would allow the team the chance to spend their assets on adding depth to the rotation or bringing an additional bat into a questionable outfield.
No matter how Atlanta chooses to move forward, it is clear that this one outing is far from enough to believe Iglesias has turned the corner. The Braves must explore all other options as they continue to push themselves back into 2025 relevance.