Just when you thought the Atlanta Braves’ rotation couldn’t get any thinner, Grant Holmes has exited — and not voluntarily. What was elbow “tightness” after his abbreviated start Thursday is now officially elbow “inflammation,” and the right-hander was placed on the injured list Saturday morning. The recall? Daysbel Hernandez.
It’s the latest gut punch in a season that’s already spiraled out of postseason contention. Atlanta’s rotation is now more medical chart than depth chart: Holmes, Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Spencer Schwellenbach, and A.J. Smith-Shawver are all on the shelf. That’s an entire starting five. So, what now?
The Current Braves Staff: Strider and Who?
Brian Snitker is left piecing together starts with Spencer Strider (who has his own reasons to be annoyed), Joey Wentz, and Bryce Elder. That’s it. That’s the list. Dane Dunning, a recent addition, could step into the fray as a bulk reliever or emergency starter, but that’s hardly a sustainable fix.
With this many arms down, every solution feels like patchwork. It’s not just that Holmes was pitching well but that he was one of the only stable presences the Braves had. His 3.81 ERA across 111 innings this season was doing the quiet, necessary work of keeping the Braves from totally sinking.
What Are the Options?
There are a few options. Hurston Waldrep, Didier Fuentes, and Davis Daniel are all 40-man candidates. Ian Anderson or José Suarez could be added if Atlanta clears space. But none of these names come close to what the Braves were getting from Holmes—and this isn’t a team in a position to overpay at the trade deadline.
Could they bring in a depth piece like Erick Fedde, who was just DFA’d? Sure, but so could half the league, and Atlanta’s front office knows the stakes: why spend serious prospect capital when you’re double-digit games out of both the division and wild card?
Holmes’ Long-Term Value
This injury stings beyond 2025. Holmes, a 2014 first-rounder who finally broke into the bigs just last year, had turned himself into a dependable hybrid arm—rotation, bullpen, it didn’t matter.
His career renaissance in Atlanta made him a near-lock for future rotation plans. And while the Braves haven’t hinted at anything long-term yet, any elbow issue—especially one involving inflammation—has to be treated carefully.
Is this just a precautionary shutdown? Possibly. But with Atlanta in no position to chase wins this year, expect them to lean conservative. Holmes has too much value heading into 2026 to risk rushing back now.
A Bleak Stretch in Braves Country
It’s been a summer of bad breaks, cold bats, and long rehab timelines in Atlanta. This latest blow just underscores the theme of the season: attrition. And unless the Braves can conjure up lightning in a bottle—or find a magic arm somewhere—they’ll limp to the finish line hoping 2026 brings better luck, healthier elbows, and something resembling a rotation.
