The Atlanta Braves are stirring up some intrigue with their pitching plans, and fans are left wondering: What exactly are they doing with Martin Perez and Grant Holmes? Are we looking at a piggyback situation, or is this a full-blown "all hands on deck" bullpen game? Let's break it down.

Grant Holmes was originally scheduled as today's starter, while Martin Perez has been chilling in the bullpen since his last start eight days ago. Perez's numbers this season—a 54/111/108 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-)—tell a story of a pitcher who's consistently mediocre, whether he's facing a batter for the first time or the third. He's a "times-through-the-order" anomaly, essentially offering the same level of performance regardless of how many times he's seen a lineup in a game. Holmes, on the other hand, has made seven starts with a 105/125/113 line. His career split is dramatic: electric the first time through the order, but nearly unplayable the second and third times. That pattern held true in 2026 until his last outing, where the Rockies roughed him up early before he settled down and shut them down.

But wait, there's more. Reynaldo Lopez is also hanging out in the bullpen, sporting a 79/123/116 line. Despite being used for shorter stints, his stuff hasn't shown any noticeable uptick. Then there's Didier Fuentes, who sits at 102/81/88; he pitched two innings behind Perez last week and has made two shorter relief appearances since. His role remains a mystery too.

So, can you make sense of this puzzle? Honestly, it's a bit of a head-scratcher. But here's the thing: as long as the Braves' fielding and hitting stay sharp, the specifics of this pitching carousel might not matter too much. Sometimes, in the long grind of a season, a little creative chaos works wonders.