It took extra innings and a chaotic wild pitch for the Atlanta Braves to secure a win over the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon. Road games continue to be a challenge for Atlanta, with the team holding a disappointing 7–14 record away from home, compared to a much better 12–6 mark at Truist Park. The 2025 season has certainly been an unusual one so far.
Saturday’s victory improved the Braves to a perfect 5–0 in extra-inning games. AJ Smith-Shawver turned in a solid performance, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing just one run, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He appears to be making real progress on the mound, which is an encouraging sign for Atlanta’s rotation.
Although the bullpen held things together, Rafael Montero and Daysbel Hernandez had a rough go late in the game. Their struggles allowed Pittsburgh to tie it up in the eighth. Hernandez, chosen over Raisel Iglesias for a high-pressure moment, issued four walks. While he technically didn’t surrender a run himself, he did give up the game-tying single — though that run was charged to Montero.
One of the biggest bright spots for the Braves bullpen has been reliever Scott Blewett. He delivered two scoreless innings on Saturday, giving up only one hit and striking out one. Since being acquired from the Orioles, Blewett has been a reliable and underrated arm, quickly becoming a vital piece in Atlanta’s bullpen.
Blewett now holds a 2.79 ERA over 19.1 innings, with six walks and 19 strikeouts. Despite not having a blazing fastball or elite velocity, his effectiveness stems from sharp secondary pitches — particularly his slider and splitter. Hitters are batting just .235 against the slider and a mere .118 against the splitter, with the slider generating a 38.7% whiff rate. Though his fastball is hittable (.316 opponent average), Blewett’s ability to miss bats and induce weak contact has made him a valuable long-relief weapon for Atlanta this season.
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