Ronald Acuña Jr. Returns with a Bang — But Braves’ Bullpen Nightmare Continues

After being sidelined for a full year, Ronald Acuña Jr. finally stepped back into the Braves lineup Friday night — and made an instant statement, blasting the very first pitch of his 2025 season into left-center for a legendary leadoff homer. Sounds like a comeback story, right? Unfortunately, the rest of Atlanta’s offense couldn’t follow his lead, and the familiar bullpen struggles returned to haunt them once again.

In a tight 1-1 game in the ninth inning, manager Brian Snitker turned to veteran closer Raisel Iglesias — a move that ended in disaster. Iglesias left a hanging slider over the plate to Manny Machado, who crushed it for the game-winning homer in a 2-1 Padres victory. This has become a disturbing pattern: Iglesias has surrendered at least one run in five of his last seven appearances, ballooning his ERA to a troubling 5.75.

Once an All-Star ace, Iglesias now looks like a shadow of his former self. His velocity is down, strikeouts are harder to come by, and hitters are making more solid contact than ever. His sharp decline is costing the Braves critical games — games they simply can’t afford to lose with the Phillies and Mets pulling away in the ultra-competitive NL East.

Yet, stubbornly, Snitker refuses to shake up the bullpen hierarchy.

Snitker’s Loyalty to Iglesias Could Cost the Braves Their Playoff Hopes

Snitker’s assessment of Iglesias’ slider is brutal: hitters are slugging an astronomical .1.833 off it this season. But the fix isn’t as simple as tweaking a pitch — Iglesias is 35 years old, and his arm isn’t what it used to be. His four-seam fastball has dipped to an average of 94.5 mph, allowing hitters a .499 expected slugging percentage. That’s a game-changer.

Brian Snitker

Without a reliable fastball to challenge right-handed hitters, Iglesias has leaned heavily on his slider. But when that pitch becomes hittable, his arsenal dries up quickly. His changeup still keeps lefties honest, but it’s not enough to save him.

At this point, the Braves can’t expect a quick turnaround. It’s past time to give Iglesias a breather—maybe a phantom IL stint—or move him out of high-pressure situations, handing the ninth inning to someone like Daysbel Hernandez.

But Snitker’s unwavering faith in his veteran closer remains, come hell or high water. Admirable? Sometimes. This season? The Braves need tough decisions, not loyalty — especially with a playoff spot hanging in the balance.