WILLIAMSPORT, PA – AUGUST 23: Didier Fuentes #72 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the 2026 Little League Classic presented by New York Life between the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field on Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hailey Leonard/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Didier Fuentes was a main character in Wednesday night’s epic win over the Dodgers for Atlanta. He worked two scoreless innings, escaping two bases-loaded jams (one of his own creation). This highlighted how good he has been this season, producing 1.8 fWAR, the 10th most of any reliever in baseball. His 2.37 FIP and 3.10 xFIP illustrate how dominant he has been out of the pen as the youngest pitcher in baseball. Perhaps the highlight of his night was striking out Max Muncy to end the eighth inning and escape a bases-loaded jam. This is particularly interesting since he used his splitter to put Muncy away, which is his third pitch. Didier is still incredibly young and already very good, but his ability to develop and use a third pitch like his splitter will play a major factor in when or if he gets a chance to try his hand at being a starting pitcher again or if the Braves are content for him to be a dominant reliever for a long time.
The emotion 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GPAJa9K0py— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 27, 2026
Braves News
The Braves claimed RHP Ricky Vanasco off waivers as intriguing org depth, sending him to AAA.
Ha-Seong Kim walked the Dodgers off in a tremendous Wednesday night matchup.
MLB News
The Dodgers will place Roki Sasaki on the IL with a blister on his pitching hand.
Yankees’ star reliever Fernando Cruz will hit the IL with a partially torn UCL of severity to be determined.
The Astros are expecting Carlos Correa to return to the field sometime in September, after previously expecting his season to be over.