The Braves fall to the Orioles 9-6 on July 5, 2025, as the bullpen implodes again. Despite offense from Austin Riley & Matt Olson, the pitching can't hold on.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another game, another late-inning heartbreak. The feeling is becoming all too familiar for Braves fans this season. Saturday's 9-6 extra-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles wasn't just a single defeat; it was a symptom of a much larger problem. With the starting rotation decimated by injuries, the bullpen was once again asked to do the impossible, and once again, it buckled under the pressure, leaving a potent offense to wonder what more it has to do.
The Braves are now 28-5 when scoring five or more runs this season. The offense is holding up its end of the bargain.
The Braves had their chances against the Orioles. An early two-run blast from Austin Riley and a three-hit, two-RBI performance from Matt Olson should have been enough. But the pitching situation is dire. Aaron Bummer, a reliever for his entire 374-appearance career, was thrust into an 'opener' role, and while he started strong by striking out his first five batters, the Orioles adjusted, tagging him for five runs in 3.2 innings. The game remained tight until the 10th, when Rafael Montero surrendered a go-ahead double to Ramón Laureano, followed by a two-run dagger from Jacob Stallings that sealed Atlanta's fate.
The front office is clearly in scramble mode, and Sunday brought a flurry of moves. In a move that surprised no one, the Braves officially transferred Spencer Schwellenbach and his fractured right elbow to the 60-day IL. To fill the void, they selected the contract of a familiar face: veteran reliever Jesse Chavez. 'Uncle Jesse' returns from Gwinnett to hopefully provide some stability. The team also recalled lefty Austin Cox after designating struggling veteran Craig Kimbrel for assignment. Kimbrel's second stint in Atlanta comes to an unceremonious end, while the 27-year-old Cox is being counted on to get crucial outs against left-handed hitters.
The moves weren't just on the mound. The Alex Verdugo experiment is officially over, as the team released the outfielder after he struggled to find his footing at the plate. His departure clears the way for Jurickson Profar to take on a larger role now that he's back from the IL. These moves paint a picture of a team desperately searching for answers. With Chris Sale (broken rib), Reynaldo López (shoulder surgery), and AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery) all on the shelf alongside Schwellenbach, the Braves are simply trying to plug holes in a sinking ship.
So where do the Braves go from here? The offense continues to prove it can hang with anyone, but games are being lost on the mound. The hope is that new and familiar faces like Austin Cox and Jesse Chavez can provide a desperately needed spark to a beleaguered bullpen. But with no immediate end in sight for the injury crisis, manager Brian Snitker will have to continue his masterful juggling act to keep the team in contention. Every game is a battle, not just against the opponent, but against their own depleted roster.
