Looking to start off the second half of the season on the right note, the Braves start Grant Holmes, who was highlighted on the MLB X account this week in a Dropout-related meme, in the rubber match of their home series against the Texas Rangers Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET.
Holmes (5-4, 3.61 ERA) has had a mixed bag of a season. You never know exactly what you get, and it’s likely he may have already been relegated to the bullpen if Atlanta’s starter options weren’t as limited as they are right now with
injuries.
However, the right-hander is coming off one of his better starts of the season, giving up three hits over five shutout innings in a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 8.
In fact, Holmes’ last four appearances (three starts) have been solid on the whole. He’s allowed two earned runs on 12 hits over 18 2/3 innings, striking out 15 and walking seven.
His one career start against Texas didn’t go particularly well last July in Arlington when he gave up four runs on six hits over four innings of a 6-5 Rangers win.
The good news (in theory) is that he could be in line for some run support with the Braves racking up 21 combined runs in their first two games out of the All-Star break.
The Braves will look to carry over that offensive success against Rangers righty veteran Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.04). Eovaldi has been in decent form of late, albeit a bit more consistent in length and less effective than Holmes. He’s allowed exactly three earned runs in four of his last five starts and enters having won his last four decisions.
His last loss came on June 9 and he’s thrown six-plus innings in 13 of his 18 starts this season, exactly what you would expect from a 15-year veteran.
This will be his 19th career start against the Braves. He has a 4-4 record and 2.86 ERA against Atlanta, with 99 strikeouts and 40 walks in 110 innings.
With the Phillies gaining the game they lost starting the weekend right back and entering Sunday two games back in the division, it would be pretty significant if the Braves can start the second half in the same manner they cruised through the first two months of the season, with a series win.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, July 19, 1:35 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, Los Bravos
