The Braves’ bullpen has been very good in the early going, coming into Friday night’s game tied for second in MLB in fWAR, fifth in MLB in WPA, and with only two teams with fewer meltdowns. But, a good, even a great bullpen is not a perfect bullpen, and tonight’s implosion cost the Braves what seemed to be a throughline to an easy win.
Yes, Atlanta cruised for most of this game, behind Bryce Elder and at the expense of what seemed to be a torpid Houston attack. Though the Astros struck first, with Austin Riley making a throwing error to allow the leadoff man to reach in the game’s first PA, and Alex Bregman following with an RBI double, Elder righted the ship and then coasted.