WASHINGTON -- One week after demoting Wes Parsons less than an hour after deeming him the best option in a one-run game, Braves manager Brian Snitker found Chad Sobotka to essentially be his only option in a game that further highlighted the lack of quality depth within Atlanta’s bullpen.
Maybe it’s helpful that Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has received a few recent reminders of the potential importance of acquiring at least one proven reliever before Wednesday’s 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. But he probably wasn’t feeling appreciative watching Sobotka surrender Anthony Rendon's decisive sixth-inning grand slam in Monday’s 6-3 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park.
Though the Braves still have a 4 1/2-game lead over the Nationals in the National League East race, their bid to defend their division crown and make some noise in October will be significantly influenced by the attempt to repair a bullpen that has produced a 6.27 ERA since the All-Star break.
“We didn’t execute tonight,” Snitker said. “But guys we’re counting on with leads have been pretty good.”
To accurately assess a bullpen, there are more appropriate metrics than ERA. But it’s still telling to point out each of the Braves’ top four relievers -- Sean Newcomb, Sobotka, Anthony Swarzak and Luke Jackson -- have each endured some struggles over the past few weeks.
For Swarzak and Newcomb, the damage has been limited to one bad appearance. But Jackson has allowed at least a run in three of the five appearances he’s made since the break and Sobotka has done so in three of eight appearances within this span.
Acquiring a top-flight closer like the Padres’ Kirby Yates, the Pirates’ Felipe Vázquez or the Mets’ Edwin Díaz could be costly. Acquiring the Tigers’ Shane Greene or the Blue Jays’ Ken Giles would not require the same prospect price.
But while it would be beneficial to enhance dependability in the closer role and move some of the relievers to more appropriate roles, the Braves could also benefit from simply adding proven depth to their young relief corps, which has sorely missed Jacob Webb, who will miss at least another week with the elbow impingement that sidelined him immediately after the break.
Along with attempting to acquire relievers, the Braves could also convert Kevin Gausman, Bryse Wilson or other starters into relievers.
“I feel like [our relievers] have been doing pretty well,” Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said. “I might be missing some games and not remembering everything. But I definitely feel good with whoever comes out the door out there.”
Dallas Keuchel exited Monday’s series opening loss infuriated at plate umpire Adam Hamari, who may have missed a few strikes the former Cy Young Award winner placed in the top of the zone. The usually efficient Keuchel needed 99 pitches to get through five innings and then exited in the sixth, after he walked Yan Gomes for a third time and allowed an Adrian Sanchez one-out single.
With the game tied, closer Jackson and reliever Swarzak were being saved for later high-leverage situations and Josh Tomlin was unavailable after throwing 33 pitches Sunday. Going to a left-hander was not an option with Turner and Rendon lurking. So the only right-handed options were Jeremy Walker, who made his MLB debut Friday, and Sobotka.
Sobotka fell behind each of the first three batters he faced. Trea Turner struck out and Adam Eaton drew a walk to load the bases. After Rendon got ahead with a 2-0 count, Flowers walked to the mound to talk to his right-handed reliever.
“He wanted to go with the fastball,” Flowers said. “I was cool with it. I told him to let it eat. He just happened to let it eat a little too low. That’s not an area he throws at especially at that velocity.”
Sobotka certainly doesn’t need to apologize for getting beat by Rendon, whose grand slam bolstered his strong MVP credentials. Given the circumstances, he was the best option to use in the situation.
Managers get beat with their best option on a nightly basis. But when you go through stretches when you routinely find yourself without dependable options, then it might be time to make a change.