Grant Holmes DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Grant Holmes picked up his first win of the season on Monday, pitching 7 innings of three-run ball in a 9-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Holmes allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out four in this one. It was the first time this season that Holmes went even five innings, and after back-to-back starts with four walks, he showcased much-improved control. The 29-year-old has shown flashes of ability in the past, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him emerge as a decent fantasy option. For now, however, he remains just a streamer and deep-league option.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Atlanta Braves pitchers Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes are the favorites to open the season in the rotation. With Spencer Strider (elbow) not expected to be ready for Opening Day, Atlanta will have an additional spot open in the rotation. However, Bowman noted that one of them could shift to a bullpen role once Strider is cleared to return. Holmes made his MLB debut last season and logged 68 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.56 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied 70 punchouts and showed strong command with a 5.3 percent walk rate. Anderson has not pitched in the MLB since 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2023. During the 2022 campaign, Anderson held a career-worst 5.00 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during spring training as they could be viable options in deeper NL-only formats.

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Grant Holmes stepped up when it mattered most in Monday's Game 2 3-0 win over the Mets. In a must-win situation, Holmes was slotted into the starting lineup after Chris Sale (back) was scratched due to back spasms. Making just his seventh start of the season, Holmes pitched four innings, allowing one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts. The 28-year-old pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, going 2-1 with a 3.56 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 9.22 K/9 rate in 26 appearances (seven starts) over 68 1/3 IP. It will be interesting to see how he may be utilized in the postseason and what his role could be for 2025. He only notched one hold this season, so he would likely need to be slotted into a higher-leverage role next season to offer fantasy value.