Dylan Lee Suspects Pitch Tipping Behind Second-Half Struggles

Dylan Lee thinks someone may have cracked his code.

The Braves reliever suspects pitch tipping is behind his second-half performance struggles, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman. No mechanical adjustment or timeline has been announced — this is a working theory, not a resolution.

Why it matters

Pitch tipping is one of those baseball gremlins that can quietly hollow out an otherwise functional arm. If hitters are reading Lee's delivery before the ball leaves his hand, the problem is correctable — but only once the tell is actually identified and eliminated. The fact that Lee is raising the possibility publicly suggests the club is at least in the diagnostic phase.

The broader Atlanta picture

The Braves are operating in a tight NL postseason bye race, currently tied with the Dodgers for the second NL bye, which makes every reliable bullpen arm worth protecting. Atlanta's rotation has led the NL in starter ERA since the Trade Deadline, but the bullpen picture carries its own weight in October scenarios — particularly with Spencer Schwellenbach requiring elbow surgery and his return timeline uncertain.

What remains unconfirmed is whether Lee or the coaching staff have pinpointed a specific tip, and whether any delivery adjustment is already underway.