Underrated reliever proves key in Game 1 win over Red Sox

The Atlanta Braves have been relatively active, for them anyway, this offseason.

Atlanta made several moves on what was already a fairly deep Major League roster, trading for Jarred Kelenic, signing Reynaldo López as a starter and spending big money to bring back relievers Joe Jiménez and Pierce Johnson to multi-year pacts.

But it was another offseason transaction that proved to have an impact last night, like November’s trade to the Chicago White Sox for a left-handed reliever. Aaron disappointing finally paid off in Atlanta’s 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox last night.

Inserted with the bases loaded and just one out in the 6th inning, Bummer almost escaped unscathed – he picked up the ball on the ground for a double play. Unfortunately, he hit it in the leg, bouncing away from the mound and allowing a point to be scored.

“I knew if it was a direct hit on me, I was going straight for home, and then I looked behind me and (second baseman Ozzie Albies) was standing right behind me,” Bummer told the media in the clubhouse after the match. “So I was pissed I didn’t get out of the way.”

But the reliever buckled down and got the final two outs on strikeouts from Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers, ending the Red Sox threat and limiting Boston to just one tying run.

I think it was just trusting (receiver Travis d’Arnaud), the fingers he was throwing. Disappointment said. “And really, I just kind of keep attacking. It was about being able to execute throws and just being able to continue to execute throws.

Trust in the reliever to take care of the mess was something that got the start Reynaldo Lopezwho played with Bummer in Chicago from 2017 until last season, has been seen playing numerous times during their respective careers.

“I had the privilege of watching him pitch over the last few seasons. I know what kind of pitcher he is and I know what he’s capable of, and I think that’s what we saw tonight. I think as he continues to throw and gains confidence, the pitcher you saw tonight will be the pitcher you continue to see moving forward.

That confidence López speaks of ties into Bummer’s early season struggles, playing in a new uniform for the first time in his eight-year career. He allowed three runs on five hits and one walk in his first two outings, both against Philadelphia in the first series of the season, leaving his ERA at an unsightly 13.50 after the weekend. opening in 2024.

Since then, Bummer’s has pitched to a 2.70 ERA with ten strikeouts and just three runs over his last ten innings, with the team going 7-4 in those games. This is largely due to ground balls, with Bummer sitting at a 59.5% ground ball rate for the season, the highest mark in Atlanta’s bullpen and behind only starter Max Fried ( 67%) for the team leader.

With the injury absences of his compatriot Pierce Johnson (58.6%) and his compatriot Tyler Matzek, Bummer will have to continue his excellence so that the Atlanta bullpen does not miss a beat.

Former division rival Joe Jiménez, who was with the Detroit Tigers when Bummer was with the White Sox, said Justin Toscano about the AJC that he thinks it will continue. “Absolutely. I saw him when I was in Detroit, against Chicago a lot, and I saw him (be) nasty. I saw a pitcher that dominated righties and lefties. I know the pitcher that he can be.