There are a few names that come to mind when you think of great bullpen arms in Atlanta Braves history. It’s been something the organization has taken a lot of pride in over the years. From Mark Wohlers to Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters to Tyler Matzek and the Night Shift, the Braves usually work very hard to build relief corps capable of locking most games down.
2025 has been a mixed bag for this year’s relief core, but they’re doing their best to be better and there are at least some signs of improvement lately. However, Alex Anthopoulos will need to consider adding to the bullpen at the deadline if the Braves are going to make some noise in the second half.
While the bullpen overall has been mostly mediocre with a 3.65 ERA (13th best in baseball), Dylan Lee has been exceptional. Lee has been improving each year since joining the Braves in 2021 and now he is in the middle of arguably his finest season yet.
Braves lefty Dylan Lee deserves to finally earn his first All-Star Game selection
He’s having an All-Star worthy season and may be one of the most underrated relievers in baseball. In 35.2 innings pitched this season, he has an impressive 1.77 ERA with eight walks and 37 strikeouts. A massive part of his success stems from a very good slider.
Opponents are batting just .075 against his slider and Lee is generating whiffs on that pitch 41.3% of the time. His advanced metrics are off the charts and the only ones he needs to improve on are his barrel and ground ball rates.
Lee’s success isn’t new as Braves insider David O’Brien pointed out. Lee has posted a 1.98 ERA since the start of last season. He is the only left-handed reliever to post an ERA below 2.00 in 75 or more appearances over that span.
Dylan Lee, Wicked 88mph Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/CweCUpmY9Y
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 24, 2025
Most impressively, opponents are only batting .139 against Lee in high-leverage situations. Their average with runners in scoring position is a measly .120 this season. This is why he’s been getting more chances in the ninth inning.
He’s impressed his teammates as well, with Spencer Strider stating he’s one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball. Strider continued, “I think he’s a guy that really understands who he is and never tries to get outside of himself. And he’s a Swiss Army knife. I don’t think there’s a role you could put him in that he wouldn’t be successful.”
That’s high praise from one of baseball’s best pitchers and it’s time Lee gets his flowers. There’s no reason he shouldn’t appear in his first All-Star game this year. And what better place to make your ASG debut than at your home ballpark.
