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Will Smith Returning to Form Key for Atlanta Braves Bullpen

By Matt Melton

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Will Smith #51 of the Atlanta Braves delivers the pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on October 15, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Will Smith #51 of the Atlanta Braves delivers the pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on October 15, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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With the 2021 MLB season only days away from beginning, the Atlanta Braves will return this season with a re-loaded roster headlined by a potent lineup, a deep rotation, and an arguably loaded bullpen.

Yes, the Braves will enter the 2021 season with arguably a loaded bullpen. Even after losing closer Mark Melancon, Shane Greene, and Darren O’Day, the Atlanta Braves will still return numerous relievers with extensive experience. There is one reliever in particular that will be vital to the success of the Braves bullpen this season, Will Smith.

Will Smith will be key for the Atlanta Braves bullpen this season.

When the Braves signed Will Smith to a 3-year deal with almost $40 million guaranteed early on in the 2020 offseason, many Braves fans believed that Smith would take over as Atlanta’s closer. That as you know by now was not the case necessarily.

A big reason why Braves fans and many people believed that Smith would takeover as the Braves closer was due to his success during the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the San Fransisco Giants.

Will Smith’s 2018-2019 seasons with the Giants (baseball-reference.com)

2018 – 53 IP, 2-3, 2.55 ERA, 14 SV, 15 ER, 15 BB, 71 K

2019 (NL All-Star) – 65.1 IP, 6-0, 2.76 ERA, 34 SV, 20 ER, 21 BB, 96 K

With Melancon now in San Diego as a member of the Padres, it will key for the Braves bullpen this season for Smith to return to his 2018-2019 form.

Smith wasn’t terrible in 2020, but there are also some areas that the veteran lefty will need to improve on in 2021, most notably the HRs. Smith allowed 7 HRs to opposing batters in only 16 innings pitched during the 2020 season, which was on track to be the most HRs allowed in a season by far in his 8-year career. This also resulted in a by-far career-high in HR/9 at 3.9, a number Smith must lower this season.

Aside from the HR problems, Smith was good for the most part in 2020. Tasked with the set-up role instead of closer, Smith did have a 4.50 ERA, but with 40 more innings like a regular 162-game MLB season, odds are Smith easily lowers that back in his familiar closer role.

While Will Smith certainly didn’t have the same numbers in 2020 as he did in years prior, the veteran left-hander is set to takeover as Atlanta’s closer this season.

Next. 5 Predictions for the Atlanta Braves in 2021. dark

Will Smith will be a vital piece of the Atlanta Braves bullpen in 2021. If Smith can return to his 2018-2019 form, the Braves might just have one of the best closers in baseball in 2021.

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