Back like we never left, the Atlanta Braves are one game into the 2025 season and fans are already confused at some of the choices manager Brian Snitker has sown. The Braves fell on Opening Day to the Padres by a final of 7-4. The game had big moments from both roster’s star-studded lineups, but postgame Braves’ fans couldn’t help but wonder why one projected starting pitcher found himself pitching in relief.
The projected rotation to open the season for the Braves was released earlier this week, with Grant Holmes scheduled to pitch the first game against the Dodgers. Oddly enough Holmes found himself pitching in the eighth inning of relief this afternoon against San Diego.
#Braves bullpen blew a 4-3 lead and lose 7-4 on Opening Day, the loss going to Neris in his first game with Atlanta.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 27, 2025
Braves make shocking turn to projected fifth starter Grant Holmes for low-leverage relief appearance
Pitching out of the bullpen isn’t unfamiliar territory for Grant Holmes. Last season he made 19 appearances out of the bullpen, and was so effective that the team transitioned him into a starter. Fans had questions about Holmes’ 3.56 ERA and 3.20 FIP holding up in the rotation throughout the season, but manager Brian Snitker quickly showed that Holmes’ role in 2025 may not be so concrete.
After late spring signing Hector Neris squandered the lead in the seventh inning, the Braves turned to Holmes for a low-leverage outing in the eighth inning. This decision came with Daysbel Hernandez, Pierce Johnson, Enyel De Los Santos, and newly acquired Jose Suarez all ready and waiting in the bullpen.
Lucky for the Braves, Holmes made quick work of San Diego in the eighth, collecting two strikeouts and throwing just nine pitches in his lone inning of work. This outing could be viewed as Holmes simply throwing his “bullpen” ahead of his start in live game action. However, it’s likely the Braves will first see how the rest of their series in San Diego plays out before penciling Holmes in for game one in Los Angeles like they originally planned.
Should one of Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, or AJ Smith-Shawver fail to make it deep into a start this weekend Snitker may turn to Grant Holmes for bulk once again. Ideally that’s why you carry a guy like Jose Suarez, but we’ve already been thrown one curveball in bullpen management in 2025, and we’re going to have to wait and see if we get another.
