The Atlanta Braves thought they were settling in for the opener of a key series against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night. Instead, they found themselves dealing with an unexpected rain delay, an unfinished game, and a pitching situation that suddenly became much more complicated.
After the weather halted play in the middle of the second inning, the game was officially suspended with Atlanta trailing San Francisco 3-2. The contest will resume on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. from the bottom of the second inning as the first game of a doubleheader at Truist Park.
Grant Holmes was on the mound for Atlanta before the rain arrived and struggled through two innings. He allowed four hits, walked three batters, and surrendered three earned runs while striking out two.
Braves Face Pitching Challenge
The suspension creates a difficult situation for Atlanta’s pitching staff. Because Holmes already completed his outing, the Braves will need to cover the remaining seven innings of the resumed game before turning around and playing the regularly scheduled nightcap.
Manager Walt Weiss confirmed after Tuesday’s postponement that the club plans to use a bullpen approach to finish the first game. While he did not reveal who would take the mound first when play resumes, several candidates are available.
Reynaldo López appears to be one of the most logical options. The former starter has transitioned into a relief role and has been effective in recent appearances. Although he has not worked more than one inning since May 28 against the Boston Red Sox, he has allowed just one hit and fewer than one earned run across four of his last five outings. His most recent appearance came on June 14.
Other possibilities include Didier Fuentes, who last pitched on June 13, and Dylan Dodd, who most recently appeared on June 14. With a doubleheader on the schedule, Atlanta will likely need contributions from multiple relievers throughout the day.
JR Ritchie Gets the Ball in Game Two
While the bullpen will handle the first game, the Braves already know who will start the second.
Weiss confirmed that rookie right-hander JR Ritchie will take the mound for the 7:15 p.m. contest against San Francisco. It will mark his first start since May 18 and another opportunity for the organization to evaluate one of its promising young arms at the major league level.
Ritchie last appeared on June 12 when he entered in long relief after Spencer Strider exited with an injury. He responded with one of his strongest performances of the season, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. He also walked two batters and struck out five.
That outing demonstrated his ability to handle a larger workload, something Atlanta will need as it navigates a demanding day of baseball.
Long Day Ahead for Both Clubs
Tuesday’s delay developed quickly. What initially appeared to be manageable mist evolved into a steady rainfall that lingered for nearly two hours. Both teams waited in hopes that conditions would improve enough to continue play, but the field eventually became unplayable.
The result is a doubleheader that will test the depth of both pitching staffs.
Atlanta will receive an additional roster arm before the second game, though the specific player has not been announced as of Tuesday night. Weiss indicated the extra pitcher should provide the club with enough coverage to get through the day.
“It’s just a long day, and it beats up your pitching because virtually everyone’s gotta pitch when you have two games in one day,” Weiss said. “It takes a couple of days to recover from a doubleheader. You gotta hunker down. These guys will be here in the morning and leave at 11 or 12 tomorrow night. So, it’ll be a long day.”
For the Braves, Wednesday now becomes more than just another day on the schedule. It is a test of roster depth, bullpen management, and endurance as they attempt to erase an early deficit against the Giants while surviving one of the longest days of the season.
