Here comes the latest twist in the never-ending Atlanta Braves bullpen shuffle. You guessed it — Scott Blewett is the newest name on their reliever roulette wheel.
Yes, the name practically writes its own headline — and if something goes sideways on the mound, you know the puns will be merciless.
The Blewett Breakdown
Blewett isn’t exactly a household name, but this guy’s been quietly solid when he actually gets the ball. This season alone, he’s pitched for three different teams — Minnesota, Baltimore, and now Atlanta.
He’s still holding it down with a 1.00 ERA over nine innings and 11 strikeouts. That’s no fluke stat, either; in his (admittedly brief) MLB career, the man boasts a 1.93 ERA over 21 appearances.
That’s better than serviceable. That’s “why hasn’t someone stuck with him yet?” good. Atlanta clearly sees something, and at the cost of just cash considerations, there’s really no downside.
This is the kind of upside play teams should be making — especially when bullpen stability has been, shall we say, elusive.
The Exit of José Suarez
In a corresponding move, the Braves designated José Suarez for assignment. It’s not that he pitched poorly — a 2.45 ERA in three outings is more than respectable — but it came with a 1.36 WHIP, and baserunners were becoming a problem.
He gave Atlanta two long relief appearances and a scoreless inning, so he wasn’t dead weight by any means. But in a bullpen where spots are constantly up for grabs, even solid performances can’t guarantee job security.
Braves Bullpen Carousel Continues
Let’s take stock for a second. The Braves’ bullpen has already seen Hector Neris, Jesse Chavez, Zach Thompson, Michael Peterson, and José Suarez pass through like guests in a hotel lobby. Blewett is just the latest addition to what feels like a weekly game of musical chairs.
To Atlanta’s credit, it seems to be kinda working — their bullpen ERA has dropped to 3.78, and in their recent sweep over the Twins, the pen gave up just two runs in 12 innings. Home runs have been a slight issue (10 allowed, eighth-most in MLB), but Blewett brings some help there, too — just 0.9 HR/9 for his career.
So now the big question: Will this guy stick? Nobody knows, but at least for now, Blewett’s earned a look. And if he can keep the ERA low, the strikeouts coming, and the pun-worthy name out of the headlines for the wrong reasons — he might just be the one to stop the bullpen churn.
