The Atlanta Braves have faced their fair share of struggles this season, but one bright spot has been their starting pitching. With a collective 3.74 ERA over 332.1 innings and 329 strikeouts—sixth-most in the league—the rotation has quietly been a strength amidst the chaos.
One of the key contributors has been Grant Holmes, who has carried over the momentum from his impressive 2024 campaign. After waiting nearly a decade for his MLB debut, Holmes delivered with a 3.56 ERA in 68.1 innings, including seven starts. He tallied 70 strikeouts against just 15 walks and excelled in several advanced metrics like whiff rate (32.4%), chase rate (35.1%), walk rate (5.3%), and strikeout rate (24.8%).
Though he’s faced some regression in 2025, Holmes remains a dependable arm at the back of the Braves’ rotation. Through 11 starts, he’s posted a 3.78 ERA over 64.1 innings. While his whiff and chase rates have dipped slightly, he continues to generate strikeouts and groundballs at above-average rates. One standout aspect of his season so far has been his slider.
In fact, Holmes ranked among MLB’s best in whiff rate for the month of May, generating 47 swinging strikes with his slider—surpassing even teammate Chris Sale. Last year, opponents hit .258 against that pitch with a 41.6% whiff rate and a 23.7% putaway rate. This year, those numbers have improved significantly: batters are hitting just .144 against it, with a 37.4% whiff rate and a 25.4% putaway rate. His slider spin rate has also increased from 2,736 RPM to 2,836 RPM, and 33 of his 64 strikeouts this season have come via that pitch.
The biggest challenges for Holmes have been giving up too many walks and home runs. He’s already allowed 11 homers and issued 27 walks this year—compared to just 7 home runs and 15 walks in all of last season. With his innings total nearing a career high, how he adjusts to the heavier workload will be critical.
Still, if Holmes can limit the free passes and long balls, he has the potential to elevate his game to an elite level. He rarely allows big innings, as teams struggle to string together hits against him. For now, he’s been exactly what the Braves need from a fourth or fifth starter—reliable, resilient, and full of upside.
Leave a Reply