Braves pitcher comes just 3 outs short of $1 million in final regular-season appearance
· Yahoo Sports
Tyler Mahle was three outs away from a $1 million payday. Then the Cincinnati Reds started hitting him.
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The Atlanta Braves right-hander needed to complete six innings Thursday to reach 150 innings and collect the bonus. Instead, Mahle allowed five earned runs in five innings and left after 91 pitches.
MORE: Braves make trade, acquire pitcher with 5.18 ERA from Giants
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss did not hesitate to make the move. With the Braves already preparing for October, Weiss said it would have been irresponsible to send Mahle back out simply to chase an individual incentive, according to Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
That left Mahle one inning short of a very expensive sixth inning.
Tyler Mahle’s $1 million incentive disappears
Mahle signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the San Francisco Giants before the season. Atlanta acquired him at the trade deadline, with the contract staying in place after the move.
Mahle finished the regular season with 149 innings.
The timing made the decision even more understandable. Mahle had been excellent since joining Atlanta, posting a 1.99 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over his first eight starts with the Braves. He allowed two runs or fewer in each of those outings before Thursday’s rough finish.
Against Cincinnati, things went sideways quickly. Mahle surrendered six hits, two walks and two home runs while striking out four. The Reds eventually rallied for a 7-6 victory.
Sep 12, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Mahle (54) pitches the ball against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Mahle’s final outing was not what Atlanta wanted, but the Braves have bigger plans than one regular-season incentive.
The team had already clinched the NL East and a first-round bye, giving its pitchers extra time to prepare for the Division Series. Mahle is expected to remain part of Atlanta’s postseason pitching plans after his strong work since the trade.
For Mahle, though, there is one number that will probably stick with him, which is 149.
One more inning would have turned it into 150. Three more outs would have turned that into another $1 million.
Baseball has a funny way of reminding players that sometimes the most expensive outs are the ones you never get to throw.
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