Atlanta Braves: Bullpen preview

Julio Teheran is expected to start the season in the rotation until Brandon Beachy returns from Tommy John surgery. Upon his return, Teheran might stay in the rotation or move to the pen. Teheran was a September call-up but struggled in his major-league appearances.LHP Luis Avilan appeared in 31 games for the Braves in 2012, his rookie season. He posted an ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of just 1.03. While not as hard-throwing as his fellow mates in the bullpen, Avilan did strikeout almost one per inning - 33 K's in 36 IP. Closer Craig Kimbrel hopes to duplicate a 2012 season in which he posted 116 strikeouts in only 62.2 innings and a microscopic ERA of 1.01 to go with 42 saves. View the list »
Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after pitching the top of the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field on September 14, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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The Atlanta Braves boasted the majors' most feared bullpen last season. In 2012, every regular member of the Braves' relief corps sports an ERA under four, with several also posting strikeout rates better than one per inning.

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Closer Craig Kimbrel paced the Braves with a jaw-dropping strikeout rate of 16.66 per nine innings. Now 25 years old, Kimbrel has developed an amazing amount of control to combine with the mileage on his pitches.

The Braves' set-up crew looks to be even more fearsome. The trade of Tommy Hanson to Anaheim brought reliever Jordan Walden to Atlanta. Walden brings a K/9 rate over 11 to the Braves. He may prove to be as fearsome to right-handed hitters as Eric O'Flaherty and Jonny Venters were to left-handed hitters - O'Flaherty posted an ERA under 2 and leads the majors in holds the past two years, while Venters' own K/9 rate was 10.6.

Put them all together and it's a lot of heat coming at opposing hitters.

Despite injuries to the rotation, the bullpen really held it together, allowing the Braves to rally many times during 2012. Much of the same crew is back for 2013, as manager Fredi Gonzalez hopes to once again be able to shorten ballgames thanks to his overpowering relievers.

View the list
  • Closer Craig Kimbrel hopes to duplicate a 2012 season in which he posted 116 strikeouts in only 62.2 innings and a microscopic ERA of 1.01 to go with 42 saves. 
  • LHP Luis Avilan appeared in 31 games for the Braves in 2012, his rookie season. He posted an ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of just 1.03. While not as hard-throwing as his fellow mates in the bullpen, Avilan did strikeout almost one per inning - 33 K's in 36 IP. 
  • Julio Teheran is expected to start the season in the rotation until Brandon Beachy returns from Tommy John surgery. Upon his return, Teheran might stay in the rotation or move to the pen. Teheran was a September call-up but struggled in his major-league appearances.
  • The 30-year old right-handed Martinez did OK in his fourth major-league season (and third in Atlanta). He finished 2012 with 54 appearances and 73.2 innings pitched, accruing a 3.91 ERA and a 5-4 record. He finished the season strong, with six straight scoreless appearances. 
  • Eric O'Flaherty has been one of the more deadly lefty relievers the past few seasons, and 2012 was no different. O'Flaherty finished his fourth season in Atlanta and seventh MLB season with a 1.73 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 64 appearances (57.1 IP). O'Flaherty had a 3-0 records and 28 holds in 2012 as he filled the set-up role well for Kimbrel to close games out. 
  • Venters missed two weeks of 2012 due to elbow soreness. Though his numbers tailed off a little from 2010 and 2011, they were still quite acceptable. He finished with a 3.22 ERA, though his second half was much better after getting the aforementioned break with just a 1.71 ERA. He still posted a high strikeout rate (69 K's in 58.2 innings) but let a lot more baserunners get on the bases. Hopefully, the Braves are able to manage his workload so he does not have a repeat of arm trouble. 
  • Jordan Walden is a good addition to the Braves' bullpen corps for 2013. Walden put up fairly good numbers for the Angels in 2012.  The righty finished with a 3-2 record and a 3.46 ERA, with a 1.36 WHIP, in 45 appearances. He struck out 48 in 39 innings,  but also walked 18 batters for a high walk rate.With some better control he could be a helpful addition. 
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, Atlanta Braves Examiner

Michael Francis is a freelance writer and engineer based in Atlanta, GA. He has been a credentialed member of the media to cover the Atlanta Hawks, and has been immersed in politcs for the past 20 years in Georgia and New York, covering politics on both the local level and national level for...

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