The Atlanta Braves improved to 39-19 after an 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opening game of their three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Starter Grant Holmes allowed all three Reds runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings, issuing one walk and striking out five, with both JJ Bleday and Nathaniel Lowe hitting home runs off him.
Atlanta’s bullpen once again proved dominant, with Didier Fuentes earning the win after 1 1/3 scoreless innings in which he allowed just one hit and struck out one batter, while the relief corps limited Cincinnati to only one additional hit for the remainder of the game.
The Braves continue to boast one of MLB’s strongest bullpens with a 3.10 ERA, ranking third in the league, and there is growing speculation that the team could strengthen it further ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
One potential target being discussed is a reunion with former Braves reliever A.J. Minter, who spent eight seasons in Atlanta and played a key role in their 2021 World Series championship before departing in free agency after 2024.
Minter later signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the New York Mets, but his tenure there has been disrupted by injuries, limiting him to just 13 appearances and 11 innings in his first season before a lat injury required surgery.
The left-hander was recently activated after a long rehab process and has begun working his way back, though minor setbacks and inconsistent availability have raised questions about his durability.
Despite those concerns, his track record in Atlanta—where he posted a 3.28 ERA and became a trusted late-inning arm—makes him an appealing option if he proves healthy, especially for a Braves team aiming to reinforce its bullpen for another deep playoff run.
