While most expected the Braves’ bullpen to take a step back this year (it was always basically impossible to replicate what the 2020 squad did), it has still be jarring to see how rough things have been. Instead of one of the best units in the league which is where the Braves were last year, the relief corps has been in the middle of the pack during 2021 and has been substantially worse outside of the work that AJ Minter and Will Smith have done.
The team has tried to shuffle pieces around and should have Chris Martin back from injury soon, but there is only so much that Nate Jones-level roster moves can do to move the needle.