For the entirety of the 2026 season, Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss has dealt with lineup and pitching changes with a welcome sense of aggressiveness. This was on display yet again on Friday night as Grant Holmes was clearly struggling to make it through the fifth inning, only offering 4.2 innings of work with runners in scoring position and threatening to tie a game the Braves once led by four runs.
When Weiss made the call to the pen, you could see the visible frustration on the face of Holmes. The right-hander let this out in the dugout, throwing his glove and erupting at another short outing. For Holmes, this level of emotion is understandable in a rotation that has been incredibly difficult to crack, with Atlanta benefiting from a wealth of options.
Holmes wasn't showing up his manager or making any selfish decisions, but showing clear emotion after failing to make it deep in another outing. It is the exact type of attitude you want to see from a starter who has had an inconsistent 2026 season.
Showing this level of investment and care speaks to a roster that is completely bought into their current potential and a pitcher that wants to contribute at the expected levels. Fans can only hope that this frustration sparks a higher level of performance in the next outing.
Grant Holmes Shows Obvious Frustration After Early Hook from Walt Weiss
The previous two outings for Holmes offered a combined 11.0 innings and 14 strikeouts while only giving up a pair of earned runs. It was a reminder of the capability of the pitcher and what Holmes clearly was expecting to provide on Friday night.
For Weiss, there was no disrespect shown on either side, and Holmes respected the decision, holding in his frustration until he exited the field. With this in mind, there is no reason for concern and simply points to a manager who is continuing to demand the absolute best of his players. It is refreshing, and it gives the Braves reason to feel that each game is going to be approached with a level of importance that fans have asked for over the past two years.
Holmes still has plenty of time to build on his strong outings prior to Friday, with neither Hurston Waldrep nor Spencer Schwellenbach appearing terribly close to a return. This fuels hope that the frustration that boiled over on Friday will spark a strong next outing and continue to make the case that the right-hander is deserving of holding onto a spot in the rotation.
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