Arguably, the most interesting roster decision ahead of the Atlanta Braves this season is how the team plans to navigate its wealth of starting pitching. Once the rotation is at full strength, there are seven legitimate options for five spots. This doesn't include JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes, who are both making a clear case for promotion in the minor leagues. With this in mind, fans couldn't help but pay close attention to manager Walt Weiss and how quickly Grant Holmes has been pulled in recent outings.
In each of the last two games, Holmes has been pulled before completing five innings, giving up five earned runs in 8.2 innings pitched. This is a far cry from the previous two starts when Holmes would go a combined 12.2 innings, giving up only a pair of earned runs. The quick hook from Weiss is perhaps telling of where Atlanta's mindset might be as the team looks ahead to upcoming decisions.
Holmes has a history as a productive bullpen arm, and if the starter is unable to return to form, this is where the right-hander will be demoted. Weiss clearly has little faith in Holmes to pitch deep into games right now, quickly turning to his bullpen in two very winnable affairs.
This isn't the case with any of Atlanta's other four starters, with each of the four going at least five innings in their previous outings. Even the previously jettisoned Martin Perez has gone five or more innings in all three of his starts.
Braves Lack of Faith in Grant Holmes Points to Possible Upcoming Demotion
It is important to note that Holmes has a respectable 3.42 ERA and hasn't been a liability in any of his starts. With that said, the management from Weiss and the wealth of options that Atlanta has rostered set up the very real possibility that Holmes is going to end the Braves' season as a member of the bullpen.
Chris Sale should be the only true lock in the rotation, leaving Holmes, Reynaldo Lopez, Martin Perez, Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach as seven quality options to choose from for the final four spots once the roster is fully healthy.
Holmes could easily find himself the odd man out and be relegated back into a relief role. This seems incredibly likely based on the current management of the starter and recent underwhelming production.
It should be noted that there is still plenty of time for Holmes to change this, with Strider likely taking the roster spot of Perez, and neither Waldrep nor Schwellenbach having a clear timeline for a return. Still, the quick hook is telling of where Holmes is, and that is clearly on a path that ends with the right-hander back in the Braves pen.
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