PIERCE JOHNSON NEWS

Notches first hold of 2025 Johnson gave up a hit and a walk over two-thirds of a scoreless inning to record his first hold of the season in Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers. He struck out one.

Impact Entering the game in the sixth inning to protect a 5-3 lead is a long way from the high-leverage usage Johnson was expected to see this season, but Atlanta was desperate to secure its first win of 2025. How the setup crew was deployed ended up being moot when closer Raisel Iglesias served up a walk-off homer to Shohei Ohtani. Johnson has been sharp in the early going, posting a 0.00 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through his first 2.2 innings, and once Atlanta gets off the shneid, holds should start to pile up for him.

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Locked into setup role Johnson is expected to open the season as one of Atlanta's primary setup men in front of closer Raisel Iglesias, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Impact The right-hander has a solid first full season with Atlanta in 2024 that included a career-high six wins and 12 holds, but Johnson will be counted on to handle more high-leverage duties with Joe Jimenez (knee) out until at least the All-Star break. If Johnson struggles, he could be pushed for late-inning work by Hector Neris, who didn't sign with the team until March 3 but racked up 31 holds as recently as 2023 with the Astros.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Mets reach playoffs, beat Braves to cap comeback from 22-33 start

Four months after falling 11 games under

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Albies, Urshela homer as Braves edge Marlins 5-4

Michael Harris II tripled, singled and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 5-4 on Sunday

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta Braves blow a 4-run lead in a costly 6-5 loss to Cincinnati Reds

Michael Harris II and Matt Olson homered for Atlanta, but the Braves blew a four-run lead in a costly 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Picks up second save Johnson picked up the save on Saturday, pitching a perfect ninth inning against the Nationals.

Impact Johnson entered the contest with a two-run lead in the top of the ninth and managed to retire the side on just four pitches to secure his second save of the campaign. The right-hander was able to take advantage of a rare save opportunity after Raisel Iglesias hurled three innings over Atlanta's previous two games and likely was in need of some rest. Johnson has not allowed any runs in each of his last four appearances, allowing two hits over that stretch while posting a 2:2 K:BB.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Travis d'Arnaud has go-ahead RBI single in return to lineup as Braves rally to beat Nationals 4-2

Travis d’Arnaud had a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning in his first game in a week, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 for their sixth win in seven...

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retires 19 hitters in a row, Braves beat Phillies 3-2

Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retires 19 hitters in a row and the Atlanta Braves take two of three in their series with NL East-leading Philadelphia, beating the Phillies 3-2

AUGUST 23, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moniak's double and O'Hoppe's slump-ending homer help Angels rally for 3-2 victory over Braves

Mickey Moniak hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning, Logan O’Hoppe snapped an 0-for-29 slump with a tying homer in the fourth and the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 3-2 victo...

AUGUST 17, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nabs fourth win Johnson (4-2) picked up the win Wednesday over the Brewers, allowing one hit and one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two.

Impact The right-hander recorded the final out of the sixth inning in relief of Chris Sale, just in time to watch Atlanta's offense break open a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh. Johnson has given up only one earned run over his last 13 appearances dating back to June 15, posting a 0.67 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB through 13.1 innings over that stretch while pocketing two wins and two holds.

AUGUST 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Stuck with loss Thursday Johnson (3-2) took the loss Thursday as Atlanta fell 3-2 in 10 innings to the Mets, giving up an unearned run on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.

Impact The right-hander did his job, fanning J.D. Martinez and Mark Vientos before coaxing a flyball from Jeff McNeil down the right-field line for what should have been the third out, but Ramon Laureano over-ran it and let it fall in for a single, allowing the phantom runner to score from second base. Johnson has been charged with an earned run in only one of his last 11 appearances, posting a 0.82 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB through 11 innings over that stretch while picking up two holds and a win. A.J. Minter's return from the IL has squeezed Johnson out of consistent set-up work, but he remains one of Atlanta's most effective bullpen arms.

JULY 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Jeff McNeil's single in 10th falls in and lifts Mets over Braves 3-2 for 4-game winning streak

Jeff McNeil hit a winning single in the 10th inning on a fly ball that fell when Ramón Laureano overran it in the right-field corner, and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta 3-2 for...

JULY 26, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spencer Schwellenbach shuts down Tigers for 1st MLB victory as Braves win 2-1

Spencer Schwellenbach earned his first major league win and Ozzie Albies delivered a key hit for the second straight game as the Atlanta Braves downed the Detroit Tigers 2-1

JUNE 19, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sale continues dominant run as Braves beat Padres 3-0 to split twinbill; San Diego wins opener 6-5

Chris Sale allowed only five hits in seven innings to continue his strong run and the Atlanta Braves snapped their season-worst, four-game losing streak by beating the San Diego Pa...

MAY 20, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Braves reliever Pierce Johnson 'felt really good' facing hitters Wednesday In front of Braves manager Brian Snitker and some of his coaches, Pierce Johnson faced a couple of his teammates on the field at Truist Park...

MAY 15, 2024 • AJC.COM

Injured Braves reliever Pierce Johnson is progressing well NEW YORK – For a week, the Braves have been without Pierce Johnson. For a few days, they’ve been without Tyler Matzek.

MAY 11, 2024 • AJC.COM

Braves' bullpen takes another hit as left-hander Tyler Matzek lands on 15-day injured list

The Atlanta Braves lost another reliever to injury when they placed left-hander Tyler Matzek on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation

MAY 7, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Braves place RHP Pierce Johnson (elbow) on IL The Atlanta Braves placed reliever Pierce Johnson on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with elbow inflammation, while the contract of fell...

MAY 4, 2024 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Braves' Max Fried throws 6 no-hit innings, but bullpen loses no-no in 8th against Mariners

The Atlanta Braves lost a combined no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning when pinch-hitter Josh Rojas singled off reliever Joe Jiménez

APRIL 30, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Max Fried has strong outing against Marlins after uncharacteristically poor start to season

Max Fried’s start to the season has been frustrating

APRIL 13, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Max Fried tosses 6 solid innings and Marcell Ozuna homers as Braves beat Marlins 8-1

Max Fried pitched six solid innings and Marcell Ozuna homered to lead the Atlanta Braves to an 8-1 win over the Miami Marlins

APRIL 13, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

DJ Stewart hits go-ahead HR in 8th, Nimmo hits 2 HRs, drives in 5 as Mets edge Braves 8-7

DJ Stewart hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give New York the lead, and the Mets held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 8-7

APRIL 9, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lands rare save Johnson picked up the save Sunday, giving up one hit and no walks with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning against Arizona.

Impact Johnson handled ninth-inning duties Sunday with closer Raisel Iglesias resting after pitching on back-to-back days. He made good on the save chance, picking up his first save in 29 appearances with Atlanta spanning back to last season. Johnson should return to his usual set-up role moving forward.

APRIL 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs win in extras Johnson (2-0) picked up the win Friday, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless 10th inning as Atlanta downed the Diamondbacks 6-5.

Impact He did walk a batter for the third straight appearance, but it's mostly been a strong start to the season for Johnson. The right-hander sports a 2.25 ERA and 5:3 K:BB through four innings as part of the high-leverage bridge to closer Raisel Iglesias, and Johnson has seen the most usage of any Atlanta reliever so far. After recording eight holds in 24 appearances for the team last season, he may not have to wait too much longer for his first hold of 2024.

APRIL 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Braves rally for seven in the eighth to begin defense of NL East crown with 9-3 win over Phillies

Matt Olson doubled three times, including a bases-loaded drive in a seven-run eighth inning that rallied the NL East champion Atlanta Braves past the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 in t...

MARCH 29, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS