Holmes completed four scoreless innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing three hits and issuing four walks while striking out six batters in a no-decision.

EDGE Analysis

There were definitely positives to take away from Holmes' performance, as he notched 12 whiffs en route to six punchouts while holding the Phillies scoreless. However, the right-hander was very inefficient -- he needed 104 pitches to get through four innings due in part to issuing four free passes. Holmes has struggled with his control early in the campaign, handing out eight walks across his first nine innings, though he's also racked up 11 strikeouts in that span. His inability to complete more than four innings in his first two starts (he also has a one-inning relief appearance) isn't promising, but Holmes will likely stick in the rotation even when Spencer Strider (elbow) returns to the big-league club given that Reynaldo Lopez is set for an extended absence after undergoing shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Holmes won't start as scheduled Sunday versus the Marlins after the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

EDGE Analysis

Holmes was scheduled to close out the series for Atlanta, but a rainout thwarted those plans. The right-hander has given up four earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB across five innings this season. According to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Holmes will be pushed back three days in the schedule and will make his next start Wednesday against the Phillies in Atlanta.

Holmes (0-1) took the loss against the Dodgers on Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three batters over four innings.

EDGE Analysis

This was actually Holmes' second outing of the campaign -- he came out of the bullpen for one scoreless frame in Atlanta's Opening Day loss to San Diego. While he was able to toss 89 pitches Monday, that got the right-hander through only four innings. Two of the four batters Holmes walked came around to score, and he yielded a home run and a double among the four hits against him. Holmes is opening the season in Atlanta's rotation, but it wouldn't be surprising if he heads back to the bullpen when Spencer Strider (elbow) is ready to return to the team.

Holmes struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief during Thursday's loss to the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old right-hander won a spot in Atlanta's initial rotation, but with his first start not expected to come until Monday, Holmes was available to come out of the bullpen for the final frame of a 7-4 loss. The usage could be an early signal that he's more likely than AJ Smith-Shawver to shift to a relief role once Spencer Strider (elbow) is ready to make his 2025 debut, but the performance of Holmes and Smith-Shawver as starters over the next few weeks will ultimately be the biggest factor in that decision.

Holmes tossed 93 pitches (63 strikes) in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander seems ready for Opening Day as he prepares to begin the season in Atlanta's rotation. Holmes posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB over 68.1 big-league innings last year while working primarily in relief, but the organization had plenty of success in 2024 with Reynaldo Lopez's conversion to the rotation.

Holmes allowed one hit and three walks over five scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

The 28-year-old right-hander came into camp penciled into a rotation spot for Atlanta, and Holmes has only tightened his grip on the job since. Over 10 Grapefruit League innings, he's given up one run with a 9:5 K:BB. Holmes will need to keep pitching well through the first month or so of the season in order to stick in the rotation once Spencer Strider (elbow) is cleared to make his 2025 debut.

Holmes is seen as the early favorite to retain a spot in the rotation once Spencer Strider (elbow) is healthy, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

Holmes and Ian Anderson are both out of minor-league options and are expected to round out the Opening Day rotation behind Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, but one of the duo will get bumped once Strider is cleared to make his return from an internal brace procedure on his elbow performed last April. General manager Alex Anthopoulos views Holmes as ahead of Anderson in that battle. "Look, I mention him -- because of the way he pitched last year for us and so on, he'd be the front-runner for that spot," Anthopoulos said Friday. "We think Grant's got significant upside. He's got a plus curveball, plus slider, throws strikes." On the other hand, Anthopoulos also suggested Holmes could move to the bullpen at some point, and Holmes has a lot more experience in that role -- 65 of his 68 appearances at Triple-A Gwinnett over the last two seasons have come in relief, while Anderson has been exclusively a starter throughout his career.

Holmes is a favorite to begin the season as part of the Atlanta rotation, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

While team president Alex Anthopoulos could still bring in another arm before spring training begins or even during camp, as the Atlanta roster stands, Holmes seems likely to open the year as the No. 4 or No. 5 starter behind Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, filling out the back of the rotation along with Ian Anderson as both right-handers are out of minor-league options. Spencer Strider is expected to miss the first month or so of the campaign as he completes his recovery from elbow surgery, but once he returns, Holmes could be the pitcher bumped to a lesser role. Over 68.1 big-league innings in 2024, Holmes posted a surprisingly effective 3.56 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 70:15 K:BB.

Holmes came away with a no-decision in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing only one hit and one walk over four innings. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

Atlanta needed to win at least one of the two games in Monday's twin bill to make the playoffs, and after dropping the matinee, the original plan was to turn to ace Chris Sale in the must-win nightcap. Back spasms made Sale unavailable however, forcing the team to turn to Holmes with its season on the line, and the 28-year-old rookie right-hander rose to the occasion. He wraps up his first regular season in the majors with a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB over 68.1 innings in a swingman role, but after throwing 53 pitches (35 strikes) Monday, Holmes may not be available during the Wild Card Round against the Padres.

Holmes will start the second game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Mets, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

He will sub in for Chris Sale -- who had to be scratched due to back spasms -- with a postseason berth on the line. Holmes made six starts and 19 relief appearances for Atlanta this season, posting a 3.78 ERA and 63:14 K:BB over 64.1 frames. His last start came on Sept. 22 when he went four innings and threw 62 pitches against the Marlins. Holmes also threw 1.2 innings and 21 pitches in a relief outing Sunday, so he will be quite limited in what he can offer length-wise Monday.