How Atlanta Braves Starter is Upsetting Expectations This Season

The Atlanta Braves  are 8-5 overall to begin the 2026 MLB season. Their performance has been a pleasant surprise after multiple starting pitchers suffered injuries during spring training. One starter who is healthy and has upset expectations early in the new campaign is Grant Holmes.

Holmes, 30, has pitched to a 2. 55 ERA across three outings so far this season. He has recorded 14 strikeouts as well, which is the second best mark on the team.

He only trails Chris Sale's 16 strikeouts. So, how has Holmes found so much success? It isn't as if his performance has come out of nowhere.

He has turned in back-to-back respectable seasons after all. He was primarily a reliever in 2024, as only seven of his 26 outings were starts. Holmes pitched to a 3.