ATLANTA — Atlanta is turning to left-handed pitcher Ray Kerr to initiate Thursday’s crucial Game 3 of the National League Wild Card matchups against the Philadelphia Phillies, marking his debut in playoff baseball.
The Phillies are anticipated to counter with experienced righty Aaron Nola, who concluded the regular season with a 7-12 record and a 4.67 ERA.
Following Kerr, Atlanta’s right-hander Grant Holmes (10-6, 3.44 ERA) is projected to handle the majority of the innings out of the bullpen. This strategy mirrors their September 25 game in Miami, where Kerr delivered three shutout frames as the opener before Holmes surrendered a single run over four innings during a 3-0 defeat.
The 32-year-old Kerr was brought back up by the Braves on August 16 and returned to a big-league mound the next day, ending a two-year absence from the majors. His path back included undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, which kept him sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 season.
Throughout his nine appearances with the Braves, Kerr maintained an impressive 1.47 ERA.
Wednesday’s action saw Philadelphia secure a 4-3 victory over Atlanta in a 10-inning battle, pushing this best-of-three matchup to its final, winner-take-all game.
