Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell agrees to two-year contract

Atlanta Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren announced today that pitching coach Roger McDowell has agreed to a two-year contract that will run through the 2015 season. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.

"We are happy that Roger will continue to lead our Major League pitching staff," Wren said. "Our staff has performed very well under his guidance."

McDowell, 52, completed is eighth season with Atlanta in 2013, when the Braves led all Major League clubs with a 3.18 staff ERA and ranked second by allowing just 2.54 walks per nine innings pitched. The Braves ranked sixth overall (fourth in the National League) with a .244 opponents batting average. 

Under McDowell's leadership, Atlanta's staff ERA has dropped each session since 2008, and has ranked in the top five in the majors each season since 2009. Over the last three seasons, Atlanta's relievers have posted a combined 2.76 ERA (best in the majors) and .226 opponents batting average (third in the majors) while tying for the fewest home runs allowed among all Major League bullpens in that stretch, with just 103.