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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Nabs fourth win
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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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Stuck with loss Thursday
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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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Notches eighth hold
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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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Reinstated from IL
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Nabs win in extras
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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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Gearing up for setup role
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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.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Signs two-year extension
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Atlanta signed Johnson to a two-year, $14.25 million contract extension Wednesday.
Johnson will make $7 million in both 2024 and 2025, and the new deal also includes a $7 million club option (or $250,000 buyout) for 2026. The 32-year-old right-hander was acquired from the Rockies this past July and went on to deliver a 0.76 ERA and 32:5 K:BB over his final 23.2 regular-season innings with the NL East champions. He then carried that over into the playoffs, logging three scoreless relief appearances in the best-of-five NLDS against the Phillies.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Collects hold No. 10
Rotowire
Johnson struck out two in a perfect seventh inning Thursday to record his 10th hold of the season in a win over the Cardinals.
The former Rockies closer has been very effective in a setup role for Atlanta, posting a 2.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB through 17 innings with a win and six holds in 18 appearances. The NL East leaders have a deep bullpen, and Johnson would likely be behind A.J. Minter, Kirby Yates and others in the pecking order for saves should anything happen to Raisel Iglesias, but he's still producing deep-league fantasy value in his current role.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Traded to Atlanta
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Atlanta acquired Johnson from the Rockies on Monday in exchange for Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Johnson has offered a mixed bag for the Rockies this season, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.85 WHIP but also striking out 58 batters across 39 relief innings. The 32-year-old boasts an 11.3 K/9 rate for his career, and clearly Atlanta wanted some of that swing-and-miss ability for their bullpen. Johnson should operate as part of the bridge to closer Raisel Iglesias.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Surrenders game-deciding homer
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Johnson (1-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits to take the loss Saturday against the Tigers.
Johnson entered the game in the 10th inning with the score tied at 2-2. However, he served up a single and home run to the first two batters he faced. That snapped a five-appearance scoreless streak for Johnson, during which he maintained an impressive 9:2 K:BB across five frames. Justin Lawrence is seemingly the team's primary closer, though Johnson tallied a save Friday against the Tigers and could continue to see chances moving forward.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Picks up save
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Johnson allowed a hit and struck out one without walking a batter in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Tigers.
Johnson had yielded the bulk of recent save opportunities to Justin Lawrence, but the latter hasn't pitched since Wednesday. This was Johnson's fifth consecutive scoreless outing, and it earned him his first save since June 13. The right-hander has a 6.00 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 49:20 K:BB with 13 saves and two holds through 33 innings this season, but Johnson will likely remain in the late-inning mix despite his shaky numbers after being the closer for the first two months of the season.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Nabs extra-inning save
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Johnson struck out one while recording the final two outs of the 10th inning Tuesday to pick up his 12th save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Red Sox.
The right-hander was removed from the closer role last week after posting a brutal 18.00 ERA over six appearances in late May and early June, but with Jake Bird, Justin Lawrence and even Daniel Bard all having gotten the call in the first nine innings Tuesday, Johnson was the last man standing in the bullpen in the 10th and got the job done. None of the Rockies' other options for saves have been pitching particularly well lately -- Bird has a 7.20 ERA over his last eight appearances, while Lawrence has a 5.59 mark during his last eight -- so if Johnson can string together a few more effective performances, he could reclaim the job.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Loses closer role
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Rockies manager Bud Black announced Friday that Johnson has been removed from the closer role, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Johnson officially lost the job after blowing another save in brutal fashion Thursday afternoon against the Giants. He owns a wretched 7.50 ERA in 26 appearances (24 innings) this season, although most of that damage has come at Coors Field -- his road ERA is 2.89. Black named Justin Lawrence and Jake Bird as possible candidates to replace Johnson in the ninth-inning gig.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Closer role to be addressed
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Rockies manager Bud Black said after Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Giants that Johnson's status as the primary closer will be "addressed," Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Johnson was called into Thursday's game with the Rockies leading 4-3 in the top of the ninth inning and promptly gave up three earned runs on two hits and two walks while recording only two outs. He's blown two saves in the last week and his season ERA has risen to 7.50. Justin Lawrence, Jake Bird, Brent Suter and Brad Hand are among the other options at closer for Colorado. Daniel Bard could maybe even get another shot.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Blows four-run lead
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Johnson allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two across 0.2 innings Thursday against the Marlins.
Johnson entered the game in the top of the ninth inning with a four-run lead and served up a pair of two-run homers to blow the lead. He was ultimately bailed out by his offense in the bottom of the same frame, though the performance continued a shaky stretch for Johnson. Across his last 12 appearances, he's allowed at least one earned run on six occasions. On the other hand, he has tallied seven saves in that span and there is no sign that the Rockies are looking to move away from him as the closer at this point.
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Rockies' Pierce Johnson: Allows run but secures save
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Johnson gave up a run on two hits and struck out one over one inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Marlins.
Johnson gave up an RBI double to Jorge Soler, but he was able to protect the lead from there. While he doesn't have a dominant reputation, Johnson has converted all 10 of his save chances this season, including seven in his last nine appearances. He owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB through 20 innings this season.
