Braves may have found their new closer

Monday night’s matchup with the Mets wasn’t pretty, but the Braves found a way to win a one-run game behind another stellar performance from their pitching staff.

On paper, it was a mismatch between the starters. Spencer Schwellenbach has been a top twenty pitcher in the game since he made his MLB debut last season, and Paul Blackburn might not be in the majors for much longer. It looked like that early, as the Braves burst out to a three-run lead. However, the offense’s inability to cash in with runners on base (sound familiar?) made this game way too close for comfort.

The Braves finished the game just 1-11 with runners in scoring position, and a Juan Soto two-run shot in the sixth inning gave the Mets life. A scene that only intensified when Raisel Iglesias surrendered back-to-back two-out singles in the eighth inning to put runners on the corners for none other than the Mets $765 million man.

It was a moment that very easily could have ended in disaster, another crushing loss for a team that appears desperately trying to avoid a knockout punch in June. But instead, it might end up being one that defines a critical point in the Braves season.

Brian Snitker did not opt to let Raisel Iglesias finish the job, turning to Dylan Lee, who had never saved a game in his career, despite pitching in plenty of high-leverage moments for the Braves. Lee would go to war with Soto, an eight-pitch at-bat that ended with a swinging strikeout on an 88 MPH slider below the zone. He then followed it up by retiring the meat of the Mets lineup in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing the Braves fourth straight win against their division rival over the span of a week.

Because of Raisel Iglesias’ struggles, Brian Snitker has been forced to go to a committee approach at the end of games. He hadn’t used Dylan Lee in the ninth until last night, but he may have just found his closer for the foreseeable future. Nobody has been more reliable for the Braves in relief this year, as Lee’s ERA now sits at 1.77 through 35.2 innings. And his numbers for his entire career resemble those of someone who could really be effective in that role.

Lee owns a 2.43 ERA over 160 career appearances. He’s quietly been one of the best relievers in baseball since he debuted with the Braves back in 2021, and when Brian Snitker needs to make the call next time in a tight game in the ninth inning, there really shouldn’t be any doubt about who should be trotting out of the bullpen.