Grant

Holmes

Despite a solid final line, things were dicey for Holmes early on. He let the first three batters he faced in the first inning on via two singles and a walk before getting the groundball he needed for a double play to help himself out of that inning with just one run on the board. He settled in well after that and left this start with a 3.86 ERA with a 57:27 strikeout to walk ratio through 63 innings this season. He’s scheduled for a two-start week coming up against the White Sox and Mets with both starts on the road.

He allowed a pair of solo homers in his first four innings. Didier Fuentes came on with two on and two out in the fifth, allowing a Sal Stewart RBI single to tack one more run on Holmes’ ledger before getting Eugenio Suárez swinging to end the threat. This has been an annoyingly common problem for Holmes, who has not gone over 90 pitches since his third start of the season on April 8 and has gone more than five innings just twice over that timespan. Holmes will face the Blue Jays next week in a matchup that looks solid in theory but could continue to leave you winless.

Holmes recorded five of his first six outs via strikeout before the game went into a one-hour rain delay. He returned and stranded the bases loaded in the third, then gave up a solo homer to Dylan Crews in the fourth. Jorbit Vivas then took Holmes deep for a solo homer in the fifth. Holmes’ day would be done after the five innings. He generated an impressive 18 whiffs to strike out a season-high 10 batters. The 30-year-old right-hander will take a 3.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 48/24 K/BB ratio across 52 1/3 innings into a start against the Reds in Cincinnati on Friday.

Holmes gave up five hits on the day, lowering his ERA to 3.80 this season. He hasn’t been picking up as many strikeouts as he did a season ago, but his swinging strike rate isn’t as far off as his strikeout rate would suggest. The right-hander is lined up to face the Nationals at home next time out.

While the Braves have yet to officially announce their rotation for their weekend series against the Red Sox, the expectation is that Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider will start the first two games with Grant Holmes sliding back into the Braves’ rotation on Sunday. Pérez, 35, has posted a brilliant 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 26/11 K/BB ratio over 35 innings in his eight appearances (five starts, with the Braves this season.

Holmes gave up just one hit, an Alex Bregman homer with one out in the fourth. However, he lost the strike zone immediately afterwards, walking the next three batters he faced. The last two of those were on four pitches. Moisés Ballesteros probably could have worked a walk, too, but he ended up hitting an RBI groundout instead, and Dansby Swanson then struck out after failing to challenge a 1-0 slider that would have been overturned into a ball. Holmes threw 39 pitches in the fourth, so he wasn’t brought back out for the fifth. That worked out nicely anyway, as Didier Fuentes hadn’t pitched in six days and was ready to go long. As it turned out, that homer Holmes surrendered was the only Cubs’ only hit of the game in the Braves’ 5-2 win. Holmes will face the Red Sox on Sunday.

Holmes also issued three free passes in the contest while punching out four. The Rockies jumped on him for five runs in the opening inning and added on another as Mickey Moniak crushed a solo shot to open the second. Holmes dug in from there though, blanking the Rockies through the fifth inning and kept the Braves in the game — affording them the opportunity to come back. He got nine whiffs on 87 pitches on the evening, posting a CSW of 21 percent. He’ll try to get back in the win column as he carries a 4.34 ERA and 1.31 WHIP into Wednesday’s matchup against the Mariners in Seattle.

After making it through the first two innings unscathed, Holmes ran into trouble in the top of the third inning. After allowing a single to Garrett Stubbs, Holmes left a fastball just over the heart of the plate to Treat Turner, who sent it 394 feet into right center to put the Phillies up 2-0. Holmes would get through the fourth inning without allowing a run despite loading the bases with two outs, but gave up a solo homer to Bryce Harper in the fifth inning. Holmes continues to be solid for the Braves, allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his six starts this season. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at home against the Tigers.

One out away from being in line to win the game, Holmes was lifted before he could face Kyle Schwarber for a third time in the fifth. It was probably the right call, especially since Schwarber had homered off him already. Aaron Bummer took over and gave up a double, but it didn’t score Trea Turner from first, and Bummer retired Bryce Harper afterwards to keep the game 4-2. Holmes is 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA after five starts. He’s slated for another showdown with the Phillies on Friday.

Holmes was perfect through three frames before coming completely unraveled in the fourth inning as Miami got to him for three runs on three hits and a pair of walks. He finished with three strikeouts and two walks. He was lifted after just 59 pitches (34 strikes) in his shortest outing since last July. The 30-year-old righty holds a serviceable 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 17/10 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 innings over four starts. He’ll face a tough test his next time out with a road tilt against the red-hot Phillies on Sunday night.