This story was excerpted from the Braves Beat newsletter, written this week by Brian Murphy. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The Braves’ bullpen contains a bunch of hurlers who are performing at an All-Star level this season.
That group leads the Majors in relief ERA (2.87) and ranks third in FIP (3.50) and fourth in strikeout-minus walk rate (16.3%). And it is anchored by arguably the best reliever who has never been selected to an All-Star Game.
But is this finally the year for Raisel Iglesias?
Atlanta’s closer is deserving. He opened this season with a 15 2/3-inning scoreless streak and carries a 1.48 ERA into Monday’s matchup in San Diego. Meanwhile, he has secured all 15 of his save opportunities. And Iglesias’ career save total (268) actually makes him the answer to a trivia question that he would probably love to make obsolete this year:
Which pitcher has the most career saves without being selected to an All-Star Game since saves became official in 1969?
Yep, it’s Iglesias. And it’s not close.
The pitcher who is No. 2 on that list, former longtime Braves closer Gene Garber, had 218 saves without an All-Star Game to his credit. He and Iglesias are the only closers with at least 200 career saves and zero All-Star nods.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the pitcher with the most career saves by the time of his first All-Star Game was Armando Benítez, who had 197 saves on the date of the 2003 Midsummer Classic in Chicago. He was the Mets’ lone representative that night and was traded to the Yankees the next day.
Ultimately, Iglesias' lack of All-Star recognition should have never lasted this long. Here’s a quick look at some of the right-hander’s first-half numbers in a few other years in which he was snubbed:
2017: 1.69 ERA, 16 saves in 17 opportunities
2018: 2.36 ERA, 19 saves in 22 opportunities
2024: 2.02 ERA, 22 saves in 24 opportunities
And yet, even as the 36-year-old Iglesias is on track for his fifth season with at least 30 saves and a sub-3.00 ERA, it’s no lock that he’ll be in Philadelphia for the festivities on July 14. The Phillies’ own Jhoan Duran has been fantastic. The Padres’ Mason Miller, whom the Braves hope not to see over the next few days, has allowed three earned runs in 31 innings to go with a 51.7% strikeout rate.
Iglesias even has competition from within his own ‘pen. Robert Suarez, who has pitched in each of the past two All-Star Games, has given up only two earned runs through his first 32 innings as a Brave while setting up for Iglesias. Dylan Lee (1.08 ERA over 33 1/3 frames) wouldn’t be a bad pick either.
It’s been 12 years since the Braves had a reliever chosen for the All-Star Game; Craig Kimbrel was picked for four straight from 2011-14. Iglesias, now in his 12th season, should probably start getting prepared to end that streak. It’s been a long time coming.