Ray Kerr’s remarkable comeback story has reached a major moment with the Atlanta Braves. After battling injuries and spending more than two years away from Major League Baseball action, Kerr has been named Atlanta’s opener for the decisive Wild Card Series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The left-handed pitcher will start the game before giving way to right-hander Grant Holmes, creating a matchup-based pitching plan for the Braves in an elimination game.
Ray Kerr’s Long Road Back to the Braves
Kerr’s opportunity is particularly notable because of how difficult his recent path has been. He had not appeared in a major league game for more than two years before returning to the Braves in 2026.
The 32-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, an operation that ended his 2024 season and kept him out throughout 2025. He also began the 2026 campaign recovering from another injury and did not appear in a game until a rehabilitation assignment in July.
His return to Atlanta eventually came in mid-August, and Kerr immediately made an impression.
Across nine outings, he posted a 1.47 ERA and 0.60 WHIP, allowing three earned runs, nine hits and two walks over 18⅓ innings. He also demonstrated that he could handle multiple innings, pitching as many as 3⅓ innings twice during the season.
That performance helped put Kerr in position for one of the biggest assignments of his career.
Why the Braves Chose Ray Kerr as the Opener
Atlanta’s decision to use Kerr as an opener is about more than simply giving him a start. The Braves are attempting to create favorable matchups against the Phillies’ lineup while managing their available pitching options.
Kerr is a left-hander with a fastball, curveball and sinker that have produced different results depending on the matchup.
Right-handed hitters have struggled against his fastball, batting just .130 against the pitch. Against left-handed hitters, his sinker has been especially effective, with hitters going just 1-for-15 against it.
After Kerr handles the opening portion of the game, Grant Holmes is expected to take over.
Grant Holmes Expected to Follow Kerr
Holmes enters the matchup after a strong regular season. He recorded a 3.44 ERA and 115 strikeouts across 31 appearances, including 29 starts.
Using Kerr first could help prevent Holmes from repeatedly facing Philadelphia’s most dangerous hitters. The Braves can potentially use Kerr to navigate the early part of the lineup before turning to Holmes for the bulk of the innings.
The strategy also gives Atlanta flexibility in an elimination game where every pitching decision can have significant consequences.
Kerr’s Postseason Debut Comes at a Critical Time
The Wild Card finale will mark Kerr’s first postseason appearance in the major leagues. It is also a significant moment for Holmes, who is making his postseason debut as well.
That makes Kerr’s assignment even more remarkable considering where he was earlier in the year.
Just months after returning from a lengthy absence, he has gone from rehabbing and rebuilding his season to opening a winner-take-all postseason game for the Braves.
Braves manager Walt Weiss described Kerr as one of the club’s unexpected success stories, pointing to the impact players can make even when they were not initially expected to play major roles.
Ray Kerr’s Comeback Story Continues
Kerr’s journey from Tommy John surgery and a lengthy absence to a prominent postseason assignment highlights the unpredictable nature of a baseball season.
His strong return has given Atlanta another left-handed option at a crucial point in the schedule. Now, the Braves will turn to Kerr to set the tone against Philadelphia before handing the ball to Holmes.
With the season on the line, Ray Kerr has gone from fighting his way back to the majors to taking the mound in one of the biggest games of the Braves’ season.
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