The Atlanta Braves might have discovered one thing slightly essential at precisely the correct time.
Grant Holmes took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Thursday in opposition to the Chicago White Sox, finally permitting only one hit over six-plus innings in a 2-0 Atlanta victory. He walked three, struck out three and threw 94 pitches earlier than handing the ball to the bullpen.
It was greater than only one good begin, too.
Holmes is now 8-5 on the season with a 3.64 ERA following Thursday’s outing. He’s additionally struck out 78 batters in 92⅓ innings, giving the Braves one other pitcher who has proven he can deal with a considerable workload.
That’s significantly essential as a result of Atlanta is attempting to place itself for an additional deep postseason run.
Chris Sale will get the marquee matchup in opposition to Milwaukee on Friday, however maybe the extra fascinating growth is what the Braves now have behind him.
Grant Holmes Might Have a Main Position in October
There was a time when Holmes most likely wasn’t the primary identify that got here to thoughts when enthusiastic about Atlanta’s postseason rotation.
That could possibly be altering.
The appropriate-hander has had his ups and downs this season, together with permitting six runs in his earlier begin in opposition to Arizona. However he had additionally thrown six scoreless innings in every of his two begins earlier than that outing, exhibiting that Thursday wasn’t essentially some fully random flash of brilliance.
The slider has been significantly essential.
Holmes mentioned after Thursday’s sport that he had labored on his wrist positioning after watching video, serving to deliver the pitch again to the extent he is aware of it could attain. Supervisor Walt Weiss additionally known as it an excellent pitch regardless of opposing groups figuring out it’s coming.
That’s encouraging for the Braves.
If Holmes can persistently give Atlanta 5 – 6 high quality innings in October, he doesn’t have to change into a celebrity.
He simply must be dependable.
And all of the sudden, the Braves have one other authentic choice when the video games matter most.
The Braves Might Have a Harmful One-Two Punch
The actually intriguing half is what Holmes may imply for a rotation that already has Chris Sale on the prime.
Sale has been excellent this season, getting into Friday’s matchup with Milwaukee at 12-8 and a 2.16 ERA.
That’s a fairly good one-two punch if Holmes can proceed pitching like he did Thursday.
In fact, there aren’t any ensures right here. One dominant begin doesn’t all of the sudden make Holmes a confirmed postseason ace. The Braves additionally produce other choices, together with Reynaldo López and Bryce Elder, whereas the group has already explored whether or not it may add one other top-of-the-rotation arm. ESPN famous earlier than the commerce deadline that Atlanta’s rotation behind Sale lacked the identical punch as a few of the Nationwide League’s different contenders.
However that’s what makes Holmes so fascinating.
If he can flip this latest run into one thing sustainable, the Braves might not want to search out one other reply.
They could have already got one.
And if Sale is the pitcher Atlanta expects to steer the rotation into October, having Holmes emerge behind him may give the Braves precisely what each contender needs within the postseason: one other pitcher they belief when all the things is on the road.
Perhaps Atlanta hasn’t discovered its second ace.
However it could have discovered one thing nearly as precious.
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