Grant Holmes Builds Confidence After Another Scoreless Start

Grant Holmes left Yankee Stadium with more than another strong pitching line, because his second straight scoreless start showed that Atlanta's recent progress can carry into a difficult matchup.

The Braves still needed 10 innings to beat the New York Yankees 2-1 on Sunday, but Holmes kept the game level, protected the bullpen and waited for the lineup to solve Cam Schlittler.

Holmes explained why repeating the work mattered, saying, "To be able to do it twice is pretty special. It gives me a bit of confidence going into the next game."

Atlanta needs Holmes to turn two good starts into a dependable run, and he allowed three hits and two walks across six scoreless innings, striking out two on only 77 pitches.

With runners on second and third in the sixth, Ronald Acuña Jr. caught Ben Rice's line drive, held Austin Wells at third, and Holmes struck out Heliot Ramos to finish his afternoon.

The outing followed six scoreless innings against Miami on Tuesday, giving Holmes 12 straight scoreless frames across two Braves wins, while showing that the earlier performance was not isolated.

He posted a 3.99 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 115 innings during 2025, and this stretch shows how command, early contact and control can make his full pitch mix more useful.

Joshua Valdez previously covered a change Holmes saw in Michael Harris II's approach, and both players helped Atlanta survive Sunday.

Holmes created the time, while Harris supplied the winning hit when the game moved into the 10th.

Schlittler held Atlanta to three hits while striking out 11 across seven innings, but Matt Olson broke the tie with his 34th home run in the seventh, turning Holmes' work into a lead.

Olson's availability has remained a major part of Atlanta's season, and Gavin Groe examined his long run of everyday availability.

Trent Grisham tied the game with a two-out homer off Didier Fuentes in the eighth, then Raisel Iglesias delivered a perfect ninth, keeping Atlanta level.

Ha-Seong Kim replaced automatic runner Olson in the 10th, Harris singled him home, and Tyler Kinley retired the Yankees in order on 10 pitches for his first save.

Harris hit 20 home runs, drove in 86 and stole 20 bases during 2025, but Sunday required a single through the right side, which was enough after Holmes kept the margin small.

Atlanta had already seen Olson deliver an extra-inning winner this summer, but Sunday's win belonged first to Holmes.

He protected the bullpen, matched a strong opponent, and gave Atlanta enough time to avoid a sweep while its lineup searched for any rallies.

The Braves open a three-game home series against the New York Mets on Monday, with Bryce Elder scheduled to face Christian Scott.

Holmes' next start would turn his growing confidence into a dependable part of Atlanta's rotation.