4 articles
ATL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
Lee got a popup to start the inning, but he then gave up doubles to Mike Trout and Jo Adell, with a walk of Taylor Ward mixed in. He was lifted at that point, and both inherited runners came around to score off Enyel De Los Santos. It definitely seems like a setback for Lee in the battle for save chances in Atlanta. Alas, the team still isn’t generating many right now. Lee and Raisel Iglesias recorded saves on back-to-back days last Monday and Tuesday, but those are the team’s only two saves since May 16.
ATL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
Raisel Iglesias had the Braves’ previous save on May 16. The team had just one ninth-inning save chance in 30 games since, and that was blown by Iglesias on June 5, costing him his job and elevating Lee. However, it appeared over the weekend that Iglesias might be back closing again, as Lee served as a setup man Saturday. Nevertheless, the Braves arranged things for Lee to close tonight. Iglesias started the eighth and gave up a pair of singles while recording two outs. With Juan Soto due up, the Braves brought in the left-handed Lee early, and Lee threw some of his hardest sliders of the season in striking Soto out. Just one of Lee’s 16 pitches tonight was a fastball, but it checked in at 96.7 mph versus Soto. That’s 2.9 mph harder than his season average. Anyway, it looks like Lee is still a viable candidate for saves for now.
ATL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
There was no save chance today with the Braves scoring once in the eighth and three in the ninth to make it a 7-0 game, but the usage of Lee suggests that Raisel Iglesias would have closed for the first time since losing the gig 16 days ago. Lee had since been lined up to close, though the Braves hadn’t presented him with any save chances. In fact, no one on the team has recorded a save since way back on May 16.
ATL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
Lee appears to be the Braves’ closer for the moment, but the team hasn’t actually been able to get him any save chances since Raisel Iglesias lost the job. Maybe it’s the baseball gods’ way of telling Brian Snitker that Lee was more valuable as a matchup guy. In his last three outings, he’s pitched with the score 7-1, 12-4 and now 4-0. Prior to this, 25 of Lee’s 29 appearances had come in games in which the teams were within two runs of each other.