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The Atlanta Braves bullpen is finally coming together

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 18: Mark Melancon #36 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the 9th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on August 18, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 18: Mark Melancon #36 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the 9th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on August 18, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 05: Brian  Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during bullpen prior to Game Two of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 05: Brian  Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during bullpen prior to Game Two of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

After a rough start after the trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves bullpen acquisitions are finally starting to turn a corner.

A lot of people in the media thought the Atlanta Braves won the trade deadline after bolstering their bullpen with Mark Melancon, Shane Greene, and Chris Martin.

Early on that certainly didn’t seem to be the case as Greene, who was brought over to be the team’s closer, blew a save in his first appearance with the Braves and took the loss in his second appearance.

He blew another save on August 10 and gave up 7 earned runs in his first six games with Atlanta.

After a scoreless outing to start his career with the Atlanta Braves, Martin gave up 6 runs over his next five appearances.

Melancon was very solid for the Braves to start not allowing a run in his first four appearances after the trade deadline. But in his first save opportunity with the Atlanta Braves — it wasn’t technically a save situation as they were up four — he gave up four runs and the Braves ended up losing in extra innings.

He bounced back for a save his next time out, but then almost blew another 6-2 lead as he gave up a pair of runs to the Mets before Jerry Blevins came in to bail him out.

But over the weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers, we really saw all three pitchers settle in and pitch like they’re capable.

Martin threw two scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts while not allowing a hit or a walk.

Greene has thrown three straight scoreless innings while not allowing a hit or a walk with 4 strikeouts.

And Melancon got back-to-back saves against the Dodgers allowing just 1 hit and striking out two.

It’s a small sample size, but it gives us hope that maybe the bullpen is about to settle into place now that everyone knows where they stand.

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