2024 was a tough season. There have been oh so many accidents. The ball had the consistency of a moist sponge, particularly at Truist Park. The rotation had its standard share of nicks and nags, together with a voluntary easing up off the fuel pedal that led to the staff dipping into Triple-A all too typically for assist. However the bullpen actually saved it collectively. As a unit, the Atlanta bullpen completed third in MLB and second within the NL in fWAR, however have been first within the NL (second in MLB) and first in MLB in FIP- and xFIP-, respectively. The offense and protection have been center of the pack, the rotation was the very best in baseball, and the bullpen actually helped push the staff over the sting. Holding down the ninth inning was Raisel Iglesias, who put collectively his finest season in a Braves uniform thus far, together with three face-ripping summer time months when the Braves wanted a lift to stop the season from going off the rails.
How acquired
Iglesias was acquired proper on the Commerce Deadline in a commerce with the Angels again in 2022. The Braves parted methods with pitchers Tucker Davidson and Jesse Chavez within the deal, however have been solely with out Chavez for 4 weeks, as they acquired him again on waivers after the Angels launched him. That mentioned, this deal was extra concerning the Angels realizing they didn’t have to pay a better $52 million (though that they had simply signed Iglesias earlier that offseason) and shifting that obligation to a staff much less involved with that kind of factor.
The Iglesias commerce was the massive transfer on the 2022 Commerce Deadline. He ousted Will Smith from the nearer function and has held it ever since.
What have been the expectations?
No shock, Iglesias was slotted to deal with nearer duties once more for the Braves in 2024.
Coming into 2024, Iglesias was coming off a 1.0 fWAR season in 2023, which was truly his lowest whole since 2018. He’d had a 1.5 fWAR season in whole in 2022, and a career-high 2.0 fWAR in 2021. Over these previous three seasons, his worst ERA- was 62, his worst FIP- was 76, and his worst xFIP- was 76. Mainly, he was a very good reliever with the one variation in his seasons being whether or not he was merely actually good or outright dominant.
One thing like a repeat of his 2022 (a median of his 2021 and 2023 seasons) made sense; ZiPS had him at 1.2 WAR.
2024 Outcomes
Iglesias’ 2024 ended up being an attention-grabbing mixture of dominance and league common efficiency. He began off weirdly pedestrian 65/89/101 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) by means of June 16, with a sub-20 p.c strikeout charge. He was nonetheless getting the job executed with eight shutdowns to 3 meltdowns, however was skating by on the protection behind him greater than something he was doing himself.
After that June 16 recreation, although, the place he gave up a two-run, game-losing homer within the ninth to Jose Siri, he went into overdrive. Between June 18 and September 13, he posted a 0/32/64 line, with a strikeout charge north of 35 p.c, and a shutdown/meltdown ratio of 17/1. (The one meltdown got here when he allowed a single that scored an inherited runner, and the Braves ended up profitable the sport anyway.) That stretch featured zero earned runs, 43 strikeouts to 5 walks, and opponents combining for .089/.134/.125 in opposition to him and the protection.
After which issues wheeled again the opposite approach. On September 15, Iglesias got here right into a 2-2 recreation in opposition to the Dodgers, posted a 1/1 Okay/BB ratio with a homer allowed, and acquired charged with 5 runs — about 30 p.c of whole runs charged to him by means of the season thus far — in what changed into a 9/2 loss. Inclusive of that recreation, and thru the top of the season, Iglesias as soon as once more had a sub-20 p.c strikeout charge, a 182/139/105 line, and a tragic 2/2 shutdown/meltdown ratio. He pitched in each video games of the Sport 161/162 doubleheader, however Sport 161 concerned him getting blasted by the Mets to blow a lead earlier than the Braves had an enormous rally after which additionally blew that lead.
When it comes to outcomes, the slider took a step again from 2023. Nonetheless, each different providing improved.
He did, nonetheless, take pleasure in nice success together with his fastballs: four-seam fastball xwOBA dropped from .400 in 2023 to .218; sinker xwOBA dropped from .471 in 2023 to .277. The changeup drove most of his strikeouts final season. However in 2024, the four-seamer truly collected extra strikeouts.
Iglesias actually struggled with slider command in 2023, and clearly refined that in 2024 to provide it a fairly tight profile. However every thing else acquired a bit extra erratic, which clearly didn’t have an effect on him for his lengthy dominant stretch. On the flip aspect, his pitch shapes all acquired marginally higher, which clearly made him more practical, though Iglesias is extra of a command-and-pitch-mix man than somebody who blows guys away with excessive stuff.
For his efforts, Iglesias earned the NL Reliever of the Month award in August. He actually might have gained it in July as effectively. He completed within the prime 20 in fWAR amongst certified relievers together with his 1.6 fWAR and 47/67/83 line. The 83 xFIP- was truly his worst mark since 2018, however was clearly pushed by stuff firstly and finish of the 12 months fairly than being an issue all season. He completed third in WPA amongst relievers, behind Emmanuel Clase and former teammate Kirby Yates.
What went proper?
As indicated, he took a blowtorch to the League for 3 stable summer time months. He was requested a number of occasions to cowl two innings to maintain the Braves in some video games, and dealt with them superbly. In all probability his finest efficiency of the 12 months was August 12 versus the Giants. Iglesias was handed the ball within the ninth of a scoreless recreation that featured an insane Blake Snell-Chris Sale pitcher’s duel, and pitched two commanding innings. Let’s take a look at his fastball that day.
Watch this changeup simply fall off the desk.
Iglesias was toying with the Giants right here, this time with the slider.
All in all, Iglesias threw two scoreless frames, together with one in further innings. He struck out 4 of the six Giants he confronted; the opposite two flew out.
What went improper?
Relievers don’t play so much, so there’s some SSS in Raisel’s debit column. These final two weeks have been fairly tough. He might actually do nothing in opposition to the Dodgers on September 15, serving to create this ugly win expectancy chart.
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Iglesias was handed the ball within the ninth in a 2-2 recreation at house. It began with out an excessive amount of bother, (strikeout, triple, floor out, intentional stroll) giving him an opportunity with two outs versus Mookie Betts. Betts discovered a gap with a single to drive in a run. Freddie Freeman adopted with one other 2-RBI single, resulting in this.
His slider ended up hung and deposited into the middle subject stands, sending ESPN into hysterics. Then there was the matter of the blown save within the second to final recreation of the 12 months versus the Mets, however let’s not rehash that one… particularly because it was a part of a teamwide bullpen meltdown on each side.
2025 Outlook
Iglesias is coming into his age 35 season with one 12 months left on his contract. Barring damage, he ought to proceed to function the Braves’ major nearer in 2025. His strikeout numbers, exterior of the summer time, took a step again. He posted his lowest strikeout charge since 2016, however the HR/FB was in his favor, so the additional baserunner probabilities weren’t as noticeable. He might want to proceed to tamp down the house runs in 2025, Nonetheless, together with his arsenal coming into his stroll 12 months, he has all of the instruments to lock down the ninth subsequent 12 months.
Steamer tasks Iglesias for 0.9 WAR in 70 innings, which is a good bit worse than he’s been for fairly an entire. ZiPS has extra of a continuation of his latest success, with 1.3 WAR in underneath 60 innings. Both approach, like a lot of their place participant group, this isn’t a spot the Braves significantly want to worry about; they’ve acquired larger issues going into 2025.
