Atlanta Braves staking claim as the best bullpen in MLB

By Jake Mintz
FOX Sports MLB Writer

The Atlanta Braves are starting to roll.

All championship hangover clichés aside, the Braves legitimately played a groggy and lackluster brand of baseball for the first two months of this season; heading into games June 1, the club was 23-27. Since then, they’ve won six straight leading into an incredibly soft portion of their schedule, with series against the Pirates, Nationals and Cubs. Atlanta still has a ton of work to do to catch the division-leading Mets, but the upcoming cupcakes will certainly help.

Despite the club’s underwhelming start, there have been a few bright spots. Ronald Acuña Jr. came back from injury and looks like his old, swagnacious self. William Contreras has blossomed into one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball. And the team’s bullpen, which was an Achilles’ heel for Atlanta in the first half of last season, before the team’s postseason run, has been stupendous.

In fact, through June 6, the Braves’ relievers had combined for a 3.17 ERA, sixth in baseball. The pen is also first in the league in WAR, strikeouts per nine and FIP. 

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