ATLANTA — Tallying a excessive strikeout whole is an effective factor for many pitchers, a minimum of these not named Grant Holmes.
Holmes skilled an all-too-familiar outcome as he recorded his third double-digit-strikeout whole, however he additionally allowed two solo house runs in a 2-0 loss to the Nationals on Saturday afternoon at Truist Park. The Braves are actually an astounding 0-8 when the right-hander has recorded a minimum of eight strikeouts in his profession.
“You strike out 15 guys, hand over two runs and lose,” Braves supervisor Walt Weiss stated. “It was a wierd sport.”
Holmes, Dylan Dodd and Tyler Kinley mixed for 15 strikeouts. However the potent Atlanta offense that ranks second within the Majors with 281 runs was unable to compensate for the solo homers Holmes allowed to Dylan Crews within the fourth and to Jorbit Vivas within the fifth.
How uncommon was this? Nicely, since transferring to Atlanta in 1966, this marked simply the third time in 27 alternatives that the Braves misplaced a sport throughout which they tallied 15 or extra strikeouts and allowed two runs or much less over 9 innings or much less.
Michael Harris II’s line-drive single to middle to start the underside of the seventh served as Atlanta’s solely hit. The Braves have been shut out simply 4 occasions this yr, however three of these situations have occurred inside their previous 10 video games.
This string of strikeouts has coincided with Matt Olson hitting .128 (5-for-39) with a .363 OPS over his previous 10 video games. Weiss stated it’s only a coincidence that this droop started across the identical time Olson grimaced on a swing-and-miss and later revealed he often feels discomfort when his proper elbow hyperextends on a whiff.
Braves followers will proceed to fret about Olson’s well being. It was encouraging to see him produce a 109.7 mph exit velocity with a floor ball within the seventh inning. However the different two balls that got here off his bat on Saturday have been 60.1 mph and 62.9 mph.
Talking of velocity, Holmes’ four-seam fastball averaged 92.3 mph, down from his season common of 94.6 mph. Nonetheless with the assistance of his two breaking balls, he struck out 10 over simply 5 innings. The Nationals whiffed with 10 of 21 swings towards his slider and with 5 of eight swings towards his curveball.
“Thank God the curveball and slider have been there, that might have been unhealthy,” Holmes stated.
Understanding how good Holmes’ breaking balls are, many followers have opined that serving as a reduction pitcher could be his optimum position. Whereas he may find yourself within the bullpen, now actually doesn’t appear to be a superb time to make this transition.
To start with, the Braves don’t at the moment have sturdy rotation depth. Hurston Waldrep gained’t be out there for a minimum of one other month. As for AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach, they nonetheless have many hurdles to clear earlier than the Braves could have a superb really feel for after they may be activated from the injured listing.
And JR Ritchie posted a 5.30 ERA and walked 14 batters in 18 2/3 innings over the past 4 begins he made earlier than being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s not a greater rotation possibility than Holmes, who has allowed simply two runs over 11 innings in his previous two begins.
There are issues about Holmes going by means of a lineup greater than twice. However with Reynaldo López, Didier Fuentes and Dodd, the Braves have three high quality multi-inning reduction choices to assist bridge the hole to high-leverage relievers when wanted.
When requested about Holmes’ newest outing, Weiss stated, “We’ll take that each time.”
Perhaps subsequent time, Holmes will preserve his strikeout whole at seven or beneath.
