Grant Holmes back on regular rest for rubber match against Red Sox

Apr 13, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Grant Holmes (66) throws against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images The first two games of this weekend’s Braves-Red Sox series couldn’t have

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The first two games of this weekend’s Braves-Red Sox series couldn’t have been much closer, with each team claiming a 3-2 win.

After Boston used an eighth-inning homer from Willson Contreras to win Saturday night’s game, the rubber match is set for Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at Truist Park.

The Braves, who have lost just one series this season, are 6-1 in rubber matches this season, including 4-0 at home.

The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 3-5 in rubber matches and have lost their last four, including one

Thursday against the Phillies.

With the series on the line, the Braves will turn to Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.35 ERA), who will close out the homestand he began on Tuesday after going 11 days between appearances when he was skipped once through the rotation.

The right-hander has battled some control issues of late, with 13 strikeouts and 10 walks in his last three starts. In eight starts this season, he has 34 strikeouts to 21 walks in 41 1/3 innings. With his 1.31 WHIP, one would imagine his ERA would be higher. However, he’s navigated trouble pretty well, with only one start where he’s allowed more than three runs this season.

Last time out in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Cubs, Holmes glided through three innings before allowing a homer to Alex Bregman and walking the bases loaded in the fourth. He allowed one more run before escaping but his elevated pitch count chased him after a season-low-tying four innings of work.

Holmes has faced the Red Sox twice, starting a pair of games against them less than two weeks apart last May. He’s 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing a combined five runs over 11 2/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking five. He took the loss in a 5-1 Braves defeat on May 30.

Boston had a TBA starter for the series finale until after Saturday’s win. Brayan Bello (2-4, 6.46) was expected to be the bulk pitcher, but the last two times, he’s been used after an opener. This time, Bello will get the start, a role he’s had much less success in this season.

In his last two games out of the bullpen, Bello threw a combined 13 1/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits in each appearance with 12 total strikeouts and two walks.

In his six starts before that, he had a 9.12 ERA and a 1-4 record, allowing 26 runs on 43 hits over 25 2/3 innings. He struck out 17 and walked 15 in those six starts.

It’s been a surprising down season for Bello, who had a career-best 3.35 ERA in a career-high 166 2/3 innings last season and has never had an ERA above 4.71 in his first four seasons.

Bello is 1-1 with a 6.61 ERA in three career starts against the Braves. His two 2023 starts against Atlanta went pretty well, but he was roughed up last season in Boston, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings in a 10-4 Braves win.

A breakout performance for an Atlanta offense which hasn’t yet scored more than five runs in a game this week would help end the homestand on a positive note and with a winning record.