Braves: 3 bullpen options if Will Smith breaks down

Luke Jackson has actually been the Braves’ best arm in the bullpen this season

This may come as a complete shock to some, but Luke Jackson has been arguably the best pitcher in the Braves’ bullpen this season. While this is Jackson’s fifth year on the Atlanta roster, he has been used mostly as a setup man or a seventh-inning guy through his Braves tenure. However, he did have 18 saves for the Braves during the 2019 season before deals were made at the deadline.

On the year, Jackson has a career-best 2.13 ERA and a 1.236 WHIP in 55 innings over 62 appearances. He has finished five games for Atlanta this season as well. While Jackson has an innate ability to get himself out of jams he creates, it is rarely a clean inning out of the guy. All that is going to do is put even more pressure on him in a high-leverage situation for Atlanta in October.

As with Matzek, can Jackson be trusted to close out games? Yes, as he has some experience doing that before in Braves uniform. However, he has really thrived in his role with the Braves this year. While he could be asked to pitch in the ninth inning for Atlanta in the postseason, his primary job responsibility is to ensure the Braves bullpen can get into the final inning with a sizable lead.

Jackson may be pitching better than most members of the Braves bullpen, but his role is defined.