Braves name Ray Kerr opener for winner-take-all Game 3 vs. Phillies

Dustin Judge
Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves will start left-hander Ray Kerr as an opener for Thursday’s winner-take-all Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Right-hander Grant Holmes is expected to follow Kerr in a bullpen-game plan for the 8 p.m. ET elimination game at Truist Park, airing on NBC and Peacock.

The main development

Kerr (0-0, 1.47 ERA) will be making his postseason debut after pitching just 18 1/3 innings in the majors this season. He already has experience against this Phillies lineup, allowing one hit over three scoreless innings against Philadelphia on Sept. 13 while striking out four and walking none, per CBS Sports.

Braves manager Walt Weiss used the same strategy when Holmes started last Friday, deploying Kerr as an opener that day as well. “We used Ray Kerr [as an opener] the other day, and Ray is throwing the ball really well for us. So, it’s a nice weapon to have with Ray,” Weiss said, according to MLB.com.

What it means

Holmes posted a 3.57 ERA in 29 starts this season, trimming that to 2.94 over his final 14 outings. Grant Holmes saw opponents post a .590 OPS in their first at-bat against him and a .886 OPS in their second, a split that explains why Atlanta wants Kerr to face the top of Philadelphia’s lineup first, a split that explains why Atlanta wants Kerr to clear the top of Philadelphia’s lineup first.

Left-handed hitters went just 4-for-23 (.174) against Kerr this season with a single extra-base hit. That matchup data matters immediately, since Phillies sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back homers off Dylan Lee in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning Game 2 loss to force this decisive game, per CBS Sports. Left-hander Brent Suter remains an option as well, having allowed one hit over three scoreless innings in a similar opener role for Atlanta on Saturday.

Context

The Braves’ plan reflects the toll the series has taken on their pitching staff. Atlanta designated reliever Elieser Hernandez for assignment and shed Ricky Vanasco from the 40-man roster ahead of the Wild Card matchup, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Closer Raisel Iglesias and setup men Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee would all be pitching a third straight day if called on again Thursday.

Philadelphia is countering with veteran right-hander Aaron Nola (7-12, 4.67 ERA) on regular rest. Nola is 5-4 in his postseason career with a 3.88 ERA, including NLDS wins over the Braves in both 2022 and 2023, per CBS Sports. Atlanta has lost its past six playoff elimination games, a trend the Braves are trying to reverse Thursday.

What’s next

First pitch for Game 3 is set for 8 p.m. ET at Truist Park, with the winner advancing in the playoffs and the loser’s season ending immediately. More on Atlanta’s pitching plan can be found in Total Apex Sports’ breakdown of the pitching risks facing both clubs in the series finale.

Reporting from CBS Sports, ESPN, MLB.com and MLB Trade Rumors contributed to this story.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.