Braves Advance Past Phillies
Ray Kerr delivers strong opening performance as Braves advance past Phillies into NLDS
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Key Points
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Manager Brian Snitker said using Kerr as an opener was a deliberate matchup decision: “You don’t do it just to do it. It has to be the right matchups, the right personnel,” adding that Kerr was “throwing the ball really well” and was “a nice weapon to have.”
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Kerr had been effective against Philadelphia before the deciding game: across two September outings, he allowed two hits and no runs in 6⅓ innings while striking out five. Left-handed hitters were batting .174 against him for the season.
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Grant Holmes was lined up to handle the bulk of the innings after Kerr, while the Braves also had Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee among the possible relief options.
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The winner of the winner-take-all game was set to advance to face the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
The Atlanta Braves advanced to the NLDS with a 6–2 victory over Philadelphia in Game 3 of their Wild Card series, powered by an inspired opening performance from left-hander Ray Kerr Yahoo Sports. Kerr, returning from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for nearly two years, threw a season-high 47 pitches across three shutout innings, striking out two while allowing just one hit and a walk to Kyle Schwarber NBC Sports.
Kerr's Opener Strategy Pays Off in Decisive Game
Manager Brian Snitker had tapped Kerr as an opener—a deliberate matchup decision rather than a routine move NBC Sports. "You don't do it just to do it," Snitker explained. "It has to be the right matchups, the right personnel." Kerr was "throwing the ball really well" and made "a nice weapon to have" against the Phillies' lineup NBC Sports.
The gamble worked. Kerr had dominated Philadelphia in September, allowing just two hits and zero runs across 6⅓ innings in two separate outings NBC Sports. Left-handed hitters batted only .174 against him all season—a stark advantage against a Phillies team loaded with southpaws NBC Sports.
From Long Injury Layoff to Postseason Hero
Kerr's appearance marked a stunning comeback. He had missed the entire 2025 season and most of 2026 recovering from Tommy John surgery Yahoo Sports. This was his first postseason appearance ever—an unlikely debut that shaped the outcome of an elimination game Livemint.
After Kerr exited, the Braves' bullpen locked down the lead. Grant Holmes was lined up for bulk relief duty, with Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee available as backup options NBC Sports. The pitching depth proved crucial in sealing the 6–2 win.
Braves Head to LA for NLDS Showdown
The Braves' victory sends them to Dodger Stadium on Saturday to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS WDEF. The momentum from Kerr's sterling performance and the convincing 6–2 margin gives Atlanta fresh confidence heading into the next round Yahoo Sports.
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