3 Up, 3 Down: Grant Holmes Separating Himself as AJ Smith-Shawver Continues to Struggle

Atlanta Braves’ postseason hopes hinge on third starter—has Grant Holmes finally seized the role as AJ Smith-Shawver struggles to find his form? Jake Mastroianni spotlights Holmes’ clutch performances and analyzes Ronald Acuña Jr.’s explosive return to MVP-level play, while Matt Olson’s prolonged slump raises concerns about the offense’s October viability.

Mastroianni breaks down key trends in the latest “3 Up, 3 Down” segment: Raisel Iglesias locks down recent save chances, but Mauricio Dubon’s weak contact and Smith-Shawver’s lack of swing-and-miss stuff add question marks. Previewing the critical series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the podcast assesses pitching matchups—Chris Sale’s dominance vs. Aaron Nola’s resurgence—and playoff implications with only games to go. Can the Braves regain momentum and nail down the NL East, or will ongoing lineup woes spell trouble down the stretch?

Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski and Kim Klement Neitzel

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