The Atlanta Braves just laid out their pitching blueprint for their third postseason game in 2026, and it all hinges on Grant Holmes. According to Mark Bowman from MLB.com, with the scoop from Walt Weiss himself, Holmes is gonna be pitching a bulk of the innings whether it’s an elimination Game 3 in the Wild Card or the opener for their NLDS push. Talk about putting a guy in a high-pressure spot, right?
The Braves’ Pitching Puzzle: Sale, Mahle, and The Mystery Man
Look, the first two games were pretty straightforward for Atlanta. Game 1 was a no-brainer with Chris Sale taking the mound, and Game 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies? Tyler Mahle was the only realistic option. Easy. But now things get spicy. We’re talking about their third postseason game, and that’s where Holmes steps in. Weiss didn’t even say if Holmes would be the starter or if they’d roll with an opener, maybe Kerr or Suter, before bringing him in. That’s a huge question mark hanging over their heads, especially when you’re facing down the barrel of either an elimination game or kicking off a whole new series.
The Braves are staring down two very different paths right now, and both of them involve Holmes taking a significant chunk of the workload. If they manage to beat those collapsing Phillies on Wednesday, they’ll secure the division title and Holmes will be the bulk pitcher for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers this upcoming weekend. Think about that: starting off against the Dodgers in the NLDS, that’s massive. But if they somehow drop Game 2 of the NL Wild Card to Philly, then Holmes is still the guy for a similar bulk role in a winner-take-all Game 3. Either way, this dude is getting the ball in a critical moment.
Strategic Moves and Heavy Hitters
The chatter is all about strategy here. An opener for Holmes makes a ton of sense, especially in the postseason cauldron. Bringing him in during the second inning could give him an easier entry, letting him face the later half of the lineup first. This isn’t just about easing Holmes into it, it’s about dodging bullets. We’re talking about avoiding guys like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber from the Phillies, or even Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman if they make it to the Dodgers series. You want to minimize those early matchups against absolute sluggers if you can. It’s a chess match, and the Braves are playing it smart by lining up Holmes for a bulk role, even if the exact game is still up in the air.
What’s Next: A Win for the Division, Or an All-Out Brawl
The Braves have one goal for Wednesday: beat the Phillies and grab that division title. If they do, they get to rest a little easier knowing they’re moving on to the NLDS against the Dodgers, with Holmes ready to roll. But if they stumble, it’s straight into a do-or-die Game 3. Every pitch counts, and Grant Holmes is suddenly one of the biggest stories out of Atlanta. And hey, speaking of big stories, did you catch that Mariners’ Josh Naylor joined Hall of Famer George Sisler with some rare stolen base MLB history? Wild stuff happening across the league. But back to Atlanta, their fate is in their hands, and Holmes is gonna be a major part of it, one way or another.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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