Raisel Iglesias Secures Ninth Save as Braves Edge Red Sox 7-6

Atlanta reliever Raisel Iglesias notched his ninth save on Tuesday, May 27, preserving a 7‑6 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park. The ninth‑inning hero allowed two runs on four hits, walked none and struck out one, holding a three‑run lead to the final out.

Atlanta entered the contest after a 2‑1 loss to the Miami Marlins in which the offense managed just a single run off starter Dylan Dodd. The Braves’ front office had been pressing for a spark from the middle of the lineup, and the answer arrived in the sixth inning when third‑base coach Brian Snitker sent a fast‑ball‑heavy barrage that resulted in a three‑run surge. Austin Riley’s two‑run single followed by a leadoff double from Ronald Acuña Jr. and a sac fly by Orlando Arcia gave Atlanta a 7‑4 cushion that would prove decisive.

Behind that offensive burst, the bullpen had been a work in progress all season. After the July 2024 trade of veteran closer Craig Kimbrel to the Chicago Cubs, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos pivoted to a velocity‑first philosophy, targeting pitchers who could generate 95+ mph fastballs and spin rates above 2,800 rpm. Iglesias, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, was a central piece of that shift. In 2023 he appeared in a career‑high 38 games, posting a 2.87 ERA and a 12‑6 K/9 rate, earning the trust of Snitker to inherit high‑leverage situations.

In Boston, the Red Sox were fighting to stay afloat in the AL East, sitting 3.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays. Their offense, led by Xander Bauer and Rafael De vers, had been productive the past week, but a mis‑timed bunt by J.D. Martinez in the eighth left two runners on base with one out, setting the stage for Iglesias’ entrance.

Background on Raisel Iglesias

Iglesias grew up in San Pedro de Macorís, a hotbed of Dominican baseball talent. He signed with the Braves as an international free agent at 17, receiving a $1.2 million signing bonus. After four years in the minors—highlighted by a 1.89 ERA in Double‑A with the Mississippi Braves in 2021—he made his MLB debut on June 9, 2022, against the New York Mets, striking out the side in his first inning of work.

His first full season (2023) saw him transition from a middle‑relief swing‑man to a late‑inning specialist. The 2023 Braves bullpen, anchored by closer Will Smith, posted a 3.25 ERA, the best in the NL East. Iglesias contributed 71 innings, striking out 84 batters while walking just 22, a walk‑rate of 2.8 BB/9 that ranked 4th league‑wide. Those numbers earned him a one‑year, $4.5 million contract extension in January 2024, with an option for 2027.

Game‑by‑game breakdown of the ninth inning

When Iglesias took the mound, the score was 7‑4 and Boston had two outs in the top of the ninth. The Red Sox sent right‑handed slugger Alex Verdugo to the plate first. Iglesias worked a 1‑2‑3 count, flashing a 96‑mph fastball that caught the inside corner for a called strike. On the next pitch, a 92‑mph cutter, Verdugo swung and missed for strike three.

Next up was left‑handed prospect Jarren Davis, who managed a single to left on a 94‑mph fastball that clipped the wall. Iglesias immediately responded with a high‑fastball‑plus slider combo, inducing a soft grounder to second. Ceddanne Rafaela then hit a routine fly ball to shallow right field that fell for the second out.

With one out and a runner on first, the Red Sox threatened a rally, but Iglesias kept his composure. He delivered an eight‑pitch sequence—four fastballs, two sliders, and two changeups—culminating in a strikeout of Wilyer Abreu on a 97‑mph fastball that brushed the outside corner. The final out was a ground‑ball double play to shortstop Orlando Arcia, ending the game at 7‑6.

Statistical context

Through his first nine appearances this season, Iglesias recorded 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings, a 12.2 K/9 rate that places him in the top five relievers in the National League. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) sits at 0.94, the lowest among Braves relievers with at least ten innings pitched. The two runs he surrendered in Boston were both earned, giving him a 2.65 ERA. The Braves’ bullpen ERA dropped to 3.12 after his appearance, the lowest mark since mid‑2023 when the club posted a 2.97 ERA during its mid‑season surge.

Boston’s offensive metrics against Iglesias are also telling. In the 2025 season, hitters posted a .215 batting average and a .268 slugging percentage against him, while his opponent OPS was .643—well below the league average of .735. Against left‑handed batters, his ERA climbs to 3.10, but his strikeout rate remains high, suggesting the Braves can continue to trust him in mixed‑handed matchups.

What does Iglesias’ recent work tell us about Atlanta’s bullpen?

Since the Kimbrel trade, the Braves have leaned heavily on a three‑man high‑leverage core: Will Smith (the new closer), Raisel Iglesias, and left‑handed specialist Lucas Luetge. Smith, who inherited the closer role in 2025, posted a 1.84 ERA in the first half of 2026, but his strikeout rate (10.5 K/9) lagged Iglesias’ 12.2 K/9. The front office’s analytics department, headed by former pitcher-turned-analyst Jeremy Hughes, emphasizes spin‑rate as a predictor of swing‑and‑miss potential. Iglesias’ fastball spin rate averages 2,950 rpm, ranking 8th in the NL, while his slider sits at 2,600 rpm, the highest among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched.

That emphasis on spin has translated into a measurable shift in outcomes. Since July 2024, the Braves have reduced inherited runners scored (IRS) from 32% to 21%, a 11‑percentage‑point improvement directly correlated with higher spin rates and increased velocity. Iglesias, who inherited three runners in Boston and allowed none to score, exemplifies that trend.

Key details from the save

Iglesias surrendered two runs on four hits, issued no walks and recorded a single strikeout in the ninth inning. He faced eight batters, requiring just eight pitches for the final out, and finished with a 2.65 ERA over his first nine appearances this season. The Braves’ manager praised his poise, noting the reliever “kept his composure when the game got ugly.” The save also marked his ninth of the season, tying his career high from 2023.

Key Developments

• Iglesias entered the game in the top of the ninth with a three‑run lead, inheriting a 7‑4 scoreline.
• The save marked his ninth of the season, tying his career high from 2023.
• He recorded the final two outs on eight pitches, the fewest required for a save since June 2025.
• Atlanta’s bullpen ERA dropped to 3.12 after his appearance, the lowest mark since mid‑2023.

Historical comparison

When the Braves last had a Dominican closer in the 1990s—Juan Gómez in 1998—Atlanta’s bullpen ERA hovered around 4.00, and the team finished 10 games out of the playoff picture. Iglesias, by contrast, is part of the first Dominican‑born pitcher to anchor a Braves bullpen that has posted a sub‑3.20 ERA over two consecutive seasons (2025‑2026). His nine saves at this point in the season also place him ahead of the 2022 franchise leader, Craig Kimbrel, who recorded eight saves before the All‑Star break.

Impact and what’s next for the Braves

With the win, Atlanta improved to 57‑45, staying a half‑game behind the Washington Nationals for the NL East lead. The Nationals, who have relied heavily on starter Zack Wheeler’s 2.91 ERA, remain the only team in the division with a sub‑3.00 team ERA. For the Braves, the next test comes against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, a series that will pit Atlanta’s high‑velocity bullpen against Philadelphia’s power‑hitting core.

Iglesias’ consistency gives manager Brian Snitker a reliable option late in games, allowing the starting rotation—led by Spencer Strider (4‑2, 2.73 ERA) and rookie right‑hander Jared Winn (3‑1, 3.12 ERA)—to focus on quality starts without worrying about blown saves. If Iglesias continues to limit baserunners, the Braves could solidify a postseason berth without needing a mid‑season trade for a closer. However, analysts at FanGraphs warn that the Braves’ bullpen depth could be tested in September if injuries to Luetge or Smith arise, making Iglesias’ durability a key factor.

Looking ahead, the Braves have a demanding schedule: a four‑game road trip to the NL Central, followed by a pivotal series against the Mets that could determine the final wild‑card spot. In those high‑pressure environments, the analytics department expects Iglesias to maintain a fastball velocity of 95‑97 mph, with a spin‑rate target of 2,950+ rpm, to keep his K/9 above 12.

For a deeper look at the Braves’ bullpen strategy, see MLB.com and ESPN.