The Atlanta Braves are rolling this season, but their bullpen keeps creating headaches. Some days, they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for available arms.
That’s what happens when you’re constantly shuffling relievers because the backend guys can’t get outs. It’s already cost Atlanta games this year.
“Not sure how much longer you can run this 6 man hybrid rotation when you have very little trust in two of your seven relievers and another is a rookie they’re being highly cautious with,” Power Battery’s Scott Coleman posted.
Tyler Kinley has become the poster child for Atlanta’s bullpen woes. The Braves grabbed him from Colorado at last year’s deadline, and it looked like highway robbery at first.
“The Atlanta Braves acquired veteran reliever Tyler Kinley from the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitcher Austin Smith on Wednesday, one day before the non-waiver trade deadline. But the right-hander has struggled much of the past three years, and Kinley is just 1/3 with a 5.66 ERA,” ESPN wrote.
Kinley was money after arriving in Atlanta. The Braves felt good enough about him to bring him back this offseason, and early on, it looked like the right call.
Then the wheels came off.
“This one hurts because Tyler Kinley was so good after the Braves traded for him at the deadline, and it was great to see the Braves bring him back last offseason at the time. It also looked like Kinley was well on his way to vindicating Atlanta’s faith in him after he posted a 0.82 ERA and 2.94 FIP through his first 12 appearances of 2026,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote.
“The story has been very different with Kinley since then and not for the better. Over his last seven appearances, Kinley has only managed a disastrous 8.53 ERA and 8.13 FIP with four walks, three home runs, and 10 hits allowed in 6.1 innings of work.”
That’s the kind of stretch that gets relievers designated for assignment.
What’s particularly troubling is Kinley’s curveball command. He’s not getting it out of the zone consistently, leaving hittable pitches over the plate. When your out pitch becomes a batting practice fastball, you’re in trouble.
The Braves are hoping this is just one of those rough patches every pitcher goes through. But Kinley’s allowed at least one run in nearly every appearance over the past couple weeks. At some point, hope turns into roster management.
Atlanta didn’t expect to be having this conversation about Kinley after how well he pitched following the trade. But that’s baseball – nothing’s guaranteed, especially in the bullpen.
If the struggles continue, the Braves will have to make a decision. They can’t keep running guys out there who can’t get outs, not when they’re trying to win a division.
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