This story was originally published by Dead Spin
In an up-and-down season for the Atlanta Braves, one constant has been closer Raisel Iglesias.
The 34-year-old holds a career-best 1.39 ERA and has converted 28 of 30 save opportunities this season.
Ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against the visiting Washington Nationals, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker didn’t mince words on the importance of the 10-year veteran to his club.
“A lot of these closers are divas, and (Raisel) is the complete opposite of that,” Snitker said following Friday’s 3-2, 10-inning win over Washington, in which Raisel threw two innings and got the victory to improve to 3-1. “When he gets that last out of the game, he’s the happiest guy on the field, and it’s because the team won, not because of him or his numbers.
“When you’re like that, the numbers take care of themselves.”
Iglesias pitched scoreless ninth and 10th innings on Friday, as the Braves won on Washington shortstop CJ Abrams’ throwing error in the bottom of the 10th. Before hitting Jacob Young with a pitch to lead off the top of that inning, Iglesias had retired 38 consecutive batters dating to July 27, the longest streak by a Braves pitcher since at least 1961.
Iglesias last allowed an earned run on June 16, marking 22 consecutive scoreless outings.
Trailing the Phillies in the National League East race, the Braves picked up a game Friday as Philadelphia fell 7-4 to the Kansas City Royals. Now five games back in the division and holding the third NL wild-card spot, the Braves will turn to another veteran pitcher Saturday in Charlie Morton (7-7, 4.29 ERA), who will take the mound for the 24th time this season.
After allowing eight earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in a 16-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 8, the 40-year-old right-hander has given up just three earned runs in 11 1/3 innings over his past two outings. Most recently, he pitched the Braves to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, throwing 5 1/3 frames of one-run ball.
In 18 career appearances against the Nationals, all starts, Morton is 6-8 with a 5.34 ERA.
Assuming the role of spoiler with 33 games left, Washington had a chance to ruin its divisional rival’s night on Friday. The Nationals tallied 10 hits, while starter MacKenzie Gore threw six innings of one-run ball in the loss. However, the game came down to Abrams’ miscue in the field, which he acknowledged was a play he should have made for an out.
“I’ve got to make a better throw in that situation,” Abrams said. “Maybe take a little more time. I think I had more time than I thought. We all fought. It came down to the wire. We wanted to continue to fight, but unfortunately it ended like that.”
Now 13 games under .500, Washington will give the ball to 27-year-old right-hander Jake Irvin (9-10, 3.81 ERA) on Saturday. Irvin, who’s completed at least five innings in 24 of his 26 starts this year, is 1-1 with a 3.07 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
