Braves Reliever Grant Holmes Heads to Injured List with Elbow Issue

The Atlanta Braves just took another hit to their already thin pitching rotation. Right-hander Grant Holmes landed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.

Holmes complained about elbow tightness during his latest start against the Texas Rangers. Manager Brian Snitker said the team will run more medical tests soon to figure out how bad the injury is.

This latest setback just adds to Atlanta’s pitching mess. The Braves came into the season with championship dreams, but now they’re scrambling to hold together a functioning rotation.

Holmes joins a growing list of injured starters. Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, and AJ Smith-Shawver are all out, too.

Now, the Braves only have three healthy starters left: Spencer Strider, Joey Wentz, and Bryce Elder. That’s a pretty alarming situation, honestly.

Limited Options to Fill the Rotation

Atlanta doesn’t have many internal options left to patch things up. Dane Dunning, a long reliever with some starting experience, seems like the most obvious candidate to step in.

But let’s be real—Dunning can’t carry the load by himself, especially with a tough schedule coming up. The Braves might need to dig deeper.

They could call up someone from their 40-man roster, like Didier Fuentes, Hurston Waldrep, or Davis Daniel. Each of those guys has some baggage, whether it’s inexperience or shaky results in the majors.

There are also non-roster veterans like Ian Anderson or Jose Suarez. If the front office makes some roster moves, maybe one of them gets a shot.

Exploring External Solutions

If the internal options don’t work out, Atlanta might have to look outside the organization. Maybe they grab a low-cost innings-eater just to get through this rough patch.

Erick Fedde, recently designated for assignment, could be on their radar. Still, it’s hard to see the Braves paying much for a short-term fix, especially since rental arms rarely move the needle.

The trade market’s tight, and lots of teams are hunting for pitching. The front office will have to weigh their options carefully, balancing the budget with the urgent need to stay competitive.

The Value of Grant Holmes’ Role

Losing Holmes stings, not just because of timing, but because he’s been a steady presence for Atlanta. Since his debut last year, he’s put up a solid 3.71 ERA and a 3.91 FIP over 179 1/3 innings.

This season, Holmes has started games and kept a 3.81 ERA across 111 innings. Those numbers really show how much Atlanta relies on him.

Elbow injuries are tricky. Sometimes pitchers bounce back quickly, but other times it means a long rehab or even surgery. For now, everyone’s waiting on Holmes’ test results to see what comes next.

What’s Next for the Braves?

Atlanta’s pitching outlook looks grim right now. The rotation’s depleted, and there just aren’t many reliable options left.

Everything hinges on Holmes’ medical results in the next few days. The team has some tough decisions to make about the rotation’s structure and possible roster moves.

If things go south, Atlanta might have to think past quick fixes. They could end up planning for bigger, long-term consequences.

This team wants a championship, so handling the injury crisis matters more than ever. If Holmes is out for a while, it’s not just the mound that’s in trouble—their playoff hopes could start slipping away as the season drags on.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Braves To Place Grant Holmes On Injured List With Elbow Tightness