Johnson (1-3) blew the save and took the loss Saturday against San Francisco. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
The right-hander has taken the loss on back-to-back days, this time giving up a two-run homer to Matt Chapman that spoiled Bryce Elder's stellar outing. Johnson has gotten a shot at closing games amid Raisel Iglesias' struggles, but he's posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over his past 10 appearances, and he has more blown saves on the year (two) than successful conversions (one) .
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Wild pitch leads to loss
Rotowire
Johnson (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Giants, allowing an unearned run on one hit over one inning.
After Dylan Lee recorded the first two outs in the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4, Johnson entered the game and gave up a single to Tyler Fitzgerald but promptly picked him off at first base. The right-hander wasn't so fortunate in the 10th, however -- with Fitzgerald at second as the phantom runner, Johnson watched him advance to third on a one-out groundout, and then bounced a curveball well wide of the plate that Sean Murphy couldn't corral to bring home the winning run. Raisel Iglesias appears to be on very thin ice as Atlanta's closer, but performances like this don't make a compelling case for Johnson to replace him. Over his last seven appearances, Johnson has a 6.00 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB in six innings with two losses and a blown save.
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Converts save chance Tuesday
Rotowire
Johnson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Nationals.
Raisel Iglesias was unavailable after pitching Sunday and Monday, but he's also been struggling badly of late and hasn't successfully converted a save chance since May 4. Johnson, on the other hand, reeled off his 10th straight scoreless appearance Tuesday, a stretch in which he's posted a 0.20 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB in 10 innings. While manager Brian Snitker hasn't yet indicated he's contemplating a change in the ninth inning, Johnson is making a strong case for a spot in the closing mix, at least until Iglesias rights the ship.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Collects third hold
Rotowire
Johnson struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings Sunday to record his third hold of the season in a win over the Dodgers.
The right-hander was expected to be one of Atlanta's top setup men this season, but a bumpy beginning to 2025 moved him down the bullpen hierarchy -- Johnson entered the game in the sixth inning Sunday. He appears to have turned things around however, delivering six straight scoreless appearances with a win, two holds and a 7:0 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Notches first hold of 2025
Rotowire
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.
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.
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.
Johnson had a solid first full season with Atlanta in 2024 that included a career-high six wins and 12 holds, and he 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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Picks up second save
Rotowire
Johnson recorded a save Saturday, pitching a perfect ninth inning against the Nationals.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Nabs fourth win
Rotowire
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.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Stuck with loss Thursday
Rotowire
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.
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 automatic 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 setup work, but he remains one of Atlanta's most effective bullpen arms.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Notches eighth hold
Rotowire
Johnson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh inning Sunday to record his eighth hold of the season in a win over the Yankees.
The right-hander has been sharp in June, getting scored upon only once in eight appearances with a 3.12 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 8.2 innings. Johnson is quickly closing in on the career-high 12 holds he collected in 2023 as part of Atlanta's high-leverage bridge to closer Raisel Iglesias.
Johnson (elbow) is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day IL on Saturday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
After throwing a live bullpen session Wednesday, Johnson was expected to be activated prior to Friday's series opener against the Padres. However, he'll get one more day for recovery before rejoining the active roster Saturday. Friday's contest is the first of 17 straight for Atlanta, so Johnson's likely to see plenty of opportunities once available.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
Atlanta reinstated Johnson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.
Right elbow inflammation forced Johnson onto the injured list May 4, and he'll now return to Atlanta's bullpen following a minimum-length stay. The 33-year-old righty sports a 3.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through 12 innings this season, and he figures to see plenty of action during Atlanta's stretch of 17 consecutive games without a day off. Jackson Stephens was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Looks ready to return
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) said he felt good after throwing live batting practice Wednesday, and he's on track to come off the injured list ahead of Friday's game against the Padres, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The right-hander has been on the shelf since late April due to right elbow inflammation. Johnson has been an effective part of Atlanta's setup crew this season, recording two wins, a save and three holds in 13 appearances with a 3.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 12 innings.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) began throwing off a mound Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Just six days after landing on the injured list, Johnson has already been given the go-ahead to throw bullpen sessions. He will presumably throw a few more before progressing to facing hitters, but the 33-year-old righty could be on track to return to Atlanta's bullpen when first eligible May 19.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Lands on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Johnson on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right elbow inflammation.
Johnson has served one of the top right-handed setup man for Atlanta this season. He did not allow a run over his last seven appearances and did not give up a hit over his last five. Johnson has a 3.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 12 innings this season and Atlanta will likely have to lean more on right-hander Joe Jimenez for high-leverage spots while Johnson is on the shelf. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred left-hander Angel Perdomo to the 60-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Lands rare save
Rotowire
Johnson picked up the save Sunday, giving up one hit and no walks with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning against Arizona.
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 setup role moving forward.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Nabs win in extras
Rotowire
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.
He walked 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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Pierce Johnson: Gearing up for setup role
Rotowire
Johnson struck out one in a perfect inning of relief during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
The 32-year-old right-hander has looked good this spring, posting a 7:1 K:BB over five innings while allowing just one run. Johnson spent some time closing for the Rockies last season before being acquired by Atlanta, and he excelled in a setup role for the NL East champs, delivering a 0.76 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 32:5 K:BB through 23.2 innings while picking up one win and eight holds in 24 appearances. He should resume those duties in 2024 as one of the primary bridges to closer Raisel Iglesias.
... See More... See Less
Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 202 lbs
Birthplace: Denver, CO
Age: 34
Experience: 7
Bats/Throws: R, R
Help us stay on the ball.
Step up to the plate and take this short, confidential survey. It'll help make CBSSports.com a better experience for users everywhere. Want to give it a shot?
0:46
1:41
8:28
0:47
1:46
10:30
10:14
9:37
1:04
1:49
8:57
1:53
8:52
1:07
1:09
3:05
1:52
0:26
9:57
9:06
