The Atlanta Braves are facing an increasingly complicated roster situation, particularly with AJ Smith-Shawver nearing his return to the major leagues. While many expected the young right-hander to immediately reclaim a starting rotation spot, recent comments from manager Walt Weiss and his continued support of Grant Holmes suggest Smith-Shawver could instead be used out of the bullpen.
That potential decision is somewhat surprising. The Braves have spent much of the season building Smith-Shawver back up as a starter following his significant injury, so shifting him into a relief role now seems unusual. Atlanta does have reason to manage his workload, but there are other ways to limit his innings without completely abandoning the starting progression he has made.
Still, there may be a creative solution that allows the Braves to protect Smith-Shawver while also getting more out of Holmes.
The possibility of moving Holmes to the bullpen has been discussed before because of his struggles when facing hitters multiple times. Even during his better outings, Holmes has generally been less effective the second and third time through an opposing lineup. Despite those concerns, the Braves appear committed to keeping him in the rotation.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Holmes and Smith-Shawver have to operate as traditional starters. Atlanta could consider a tandem approach, with Holmes opening the game and handling roughly three innings before handing the ball to Smith-Shawver.
Under that setup, Holmes could provide the Braves with a controlled workload while essentially functioning as a long reliever. Smith-Shawver could then take over and pitch as deep as his recovery and workload allow.
The biggest concern would be the impact on Atlanta’s bullpen. A strict three-inning assignment for Holmes could potentially leave the Braves short an arm on certain days. However, because Holmes would be limited to a relatively light workload, he could remain available in relief between starts depending on how recently he pitched.
Smith-Shawver could also have opportunities to avoid pitching in certain situations, such as lopsided games, or potentially remain available if he is removed early from an outing.
It’s certainly not a simple solution, but a tandem arrangement could give Atlanta more flexibility while protecting both pitchers. It could also help preserve the bullpen over the long term if Holmes and Smith-Shawver consistently cover enough innings.
For now, though, the Braves appear more likely to keep Holmes in the rotation and use Smith-Shawver in a conventional bullpen role. Whether that plan ultimately works as intended remains one of Atlanta’s biggest roster questions.
