Amid a 7-game skid in June 2025, the Braves recall Craig Kimbrel to fix a broken bullpen after trading Scott Blewett. Can the former star save their season?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It feels like rock bottom. After a devastating ninth-inning collapse against the Diamondbacks where a six-run lead vanished into thin air, the Atlanta Braves are officially in crisis mode. The team is mired in a seven-game losing streak, has lost 14 of its last 17 contests, and sits a season-low 10 games under .500. In a move that screams both desperation and hope, the front office has made a dramatic call: Craig Kimbrel is back.
The Braves have fallen to 27-37, a season-low 10 games under .500, having lost 14 of their last 17 games.
The decision to bring back the former dominant closer from Triple-A Gwinnett was a direct response to one of the most painful losses of the season. The bullpen's implosion against the D-backs was the final straw. Reliever Scott Blewett, who allowed five runs in that fateful inning, has been traded to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations. The roster shuffle didn't stop there. Righty Daysbel Hernández was placed on the 15-day IL with right forearm inflammation, and left-hander Dylan Dodd was also called up from Gwinnett to provide a fresh arm. The message is clear: the status quo is unacceptable, and the Braves are shaking things up to find a combination that can hold a lead.
The team's problems run deeper than just the bullpen, and there's no better example than the plight of Spencer Strider. The Braves' ace fell to a shocking 0-5 on the season after yesterday's loss to the Giants. Despite a quality start where he pitched six solid innings and allowed just three earned runs, he once again received no run support, a recurring theme in this nightmarish stretch. When your best pitcher can't buy a win, it's a telling sign that the entire team is out of sync, from the lineup to the defense to the bullpen.
All eyes now turn to Milwaukee, where the Braves begin a crucial three-game series against the Brewers tonight. The challenge is immense, especially on the road, where the team holds a dismal 10-21 record. The task of playing stopper falls to left-hander Chris Sale (3-4, 2.93 ERA), who will take the mound hoping to give the battered bullpen a much-needed rest and deliver a win. A victory tonight isn't just about snapping a losing streak; it's about proving to themselves, and the fans, that this slide is not an irreversible freefall.
Tonight's game feels like more than just another date on the schedule; it's a potential turning point. Will the return of Craig Kimbrel provide the emotional and statistical boost this bullpen desperately needs? Can Chris Sale put the team on his back and halt the momentum of this historic skid? The Braves are backed into a corner, and now we'll see how they fight their way out.
