ATLANTA -- Ray Kerr was the left-handed reliever the Braves chose to get through Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies.
Kerr served as the opener in Thursday's series-clinching 6-2 win and dazzled, keeping the Phillies in check with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Grant Holmes followed Kerr and allowed one run on two hits and one walk, while earning the win.
“This was just another Thursday,” Kerr said. “Growing up, I had a hard time. So, this was nothing.”
The Braves provided a clue they would go this way in Miami on Friday, when they used Kerr as an opener on Holmes’ scheduled start date.
“That was a best-case scenario, and [Kerr] did it,” Weiss said. “He got through the top twice, which kept us from using another guy at the top. So, Ray -- it all started with Ray. Everything fell into place because of Ray Kerr.”
Kerr posted a 1.47 ERA over 18 1/3 innings in nine appearances going back to his Aug. 17 season debut. Left-handed hitters were 4-for-23 (.174) against him in the regular season, with one extra-base hit, a double.
Kerr made two appearances against the Phillies in September, with the most recent a three-inning outing on Sept. 13. He got Schwarber to ground into a double play and then struck out Trea Turner to end the fifth. Harper began the sixth with a double but was left stranded.
Kerr has made just 19 big league appearances since the start of 2024. After tossing three scoreless innings against the Marlins on Friday, he said he would gladly welcome the chance to be an opener in the postseason.
Holmes posted a 3.57 ERA in 29 starts this season and a 2.94 ERA over his final 14 starts. Opponents produced a .590 OPS against him the first time facing him in a game and an .886 OPS during the second plate appearance.