HOT-NEWS: Braves Shake Up Rotation Plans Against Phillies After Shocking Sunday Rainout’- Here’s What’s Happening!

The Atlanta Braves are about to face a major early-season challenge as they go up against their NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, starting Tuesday. The Phillies, last year’s division champions, are coming off a series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, adding even more heat to this matchup.

With Atlanta struggling out of the gate and already sitting six games behind the Phillies, they can’t afford to fall further behind. Turning things around starting Tuesday is crucial for the team. The Braves’ front office seems to recognize this urgency, as they’ve already adjusted their pitching rotation for the upcoming series.

In a strategic move, the Braves decided to skip Bryce Elder’s start and slide Grant Holmes into Wednesday’s matchup. Originally, Holmes was set to pitch the series finale on Sunday against Miami, but after a rainout and a built-in off day, the Braves had the opportunity to make some changes. Holmes will now face veteran Taijuan Walker on Wednesday, while the team will finish the series with Spencer Schwellenbach, who has yet to allow an earned run, taking the mound in the finale.

Tuesday’s opener will feature a highly anticipated pitching duel between Chris Sale and Zack Wheeler, last season’s top two finishers in the NL Cy Young race. With Holmes now pitching Wednesday, the Braves will avoid having Elder face a tough lineup, especially with Bryce Harper leading the charge for the Phillies.

By pushing Holmes back, the Braves are also adjusting to the tough reality of their 1-8 start and the importance of this series against the division leader. In previous years, they may have opted to stick with the usual rotation and give starters like Sale and Schwellenbach an extra day of rest. However, with the current situation, every game counts.

This may also be one of the last times Atlanta is forced to make such adjustments, as reports indicate that flamethrowing right-hander Spencer Strider is on track to return in the coming weeks, potentially giving the Braves a much-needed boost.