The Atlanta Braves are dealing with serious starting rotation uncertainty at the moment with Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep both expected to miss time with elbow injuries. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Reynaldo Lopez will lead the 2026 rotation, but there is one other pitcher who arguably holds the key to silencing the uncertainty surrounding the pitching staff. 

Grant Holmes is currently expected to be Atlanta's No. 4 starter. If he has a good 2026 season, then he would instantly become one of the better No. 4 starting pitchers in baseball. A quality No. 4 starter makes a rotation look rather deep as well. 

If Holmes struggles, however, then the rotation will look much more thin. Additionally, Sale, Strider and Lopez have all dealt with injury concerns in recent years. In a perfect world, they all would stay completely healthy. If any of them does end up missing time, though, Holmes' performance will become even more important.

On Thursday, the Braves were defeated 5-2 by the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training contest. Holmes started the game for Atlanta, and it is safe to say that the loss was not his fault.

Grant Holmes did not just look good on Thursday, he looked like a star.

The right-handed hurler did not surrender a single hit across five innings of work. He walked only one hitter while recording nine strikeouts. 

It was a stellar performance for Holmes. If you don't believe the numbers, then take a look at the eye test. He certainly passes that test. 

Video via Rob Friedman:

Holmes' slider was unhittable. He generated 13 whiffs on 14 swings at the pitch. 26 of his 64 total pitches were sliders, as he even threw it more than his fastball.

Holmes isn't a guy who is going to blow hitters away with the fastball. In 2025, he ranked just in the eighth percentile in fastball run value. Meanwhile, he was in the 95th percentile in breaking run value. 

He isn't necessarily a soft-tossing right-hander, though. His average fastball velocity was 94.5 mph last year, which was good for the 52nd percentile. Despite not throwing extremely hard like many other pitchers in today's game, Holmes still generates a lot of swing and misses. In fact, he ranked in the 80th percentile in whiff percentage a season ago.

If Holmes can find more success with his heater, a pitch that will be offset by the slider, his overall strikeout numbers will increase. If that happens, the Braves starter may be on the verge of a breakout season.