Full Breakdown
Grant Holmes Carries Braves Near No-Hitter in Chicago
8/21/2026, 1:55:40 AM
Core Event: Near No-Hitter and 2-0 Victory
On Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, right-hander Grant Holmes pitched six-plus scoreless innings for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Holmes retired 18 of the first 20 batters before a leadoff walk to Miguel Vargas and a single by Andrew Benintendi ended the bid in the seventh. He was replaced by Didier Fuentes, who struck out the side to preserve the lead. The Braves held a 2-0 advantage, supplied by Austin Riley’s double and single, and closed the game with a 1-2-3 ninth from Raisel Iglesias for his 26th save.
Background & Context
Holmes made his major-league debut on June 16, 2024, after a decade in the minors. His longest outing prior to this game was 7 2/3 innings on April 14, 2025, in an 8-4 win over Toronto. The Braves’ last no-hitter was thrown by Kent Mercker on April 8, 1994, a 6-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. This season, only one other no-hitter has been recorded—a combined effort by three Houston pitchers on May 25.
Data & Statistics
- Innings pitched: 6 plus (no-hit through six)
- Hits allowed: 1 (Benintendi)
- Walks: 3 (including Vargas)
- Strikeouts: 3 (Holmes)
- Pitches: 94, with 16 whiffs (second-highest total of the season)
- Contact quality: average exit velocity allowed 95.0 mph (threshold for hard-hit balls)
- Team offense: 2 runs (Riley’s double and single)
- Bullpen: Fuentes (3 K), Dylan Lee (perfect 8th), Iglesias (save)
Why It Matters
The outing also halted a three-game losing streak and demonstrated the bullpen’s ability to protect slim leads. For Holmes, the game adds to a string of scoreless starts this month, bolstering his case for a larger role as the rotation approaches the trade-deadline stretch.
What’s Next
The Braves will travel 85 miles to Milwaukee for the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at American Family Field. Chris Sale (12-8, 2.16 ERA) is slated to start for Atlanta, while the Brewers will counter with Jacob Misiorowski (12-5, 1.57 ERA) at 4:10 PM ET.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My game plan every game is to get as many outs as quick as possible, go deep in the game, whether that be five, six, or seven innings, get the guys back in the dugout as quick as possible,” — Grant Holmes
