Could Ray Kerr pitch before Grant Holmes in Braves vs. Phillies Game 3?
Ray Kerr could enter before Grant Holmes in Braves vs. Phillies Game 3, but Atlanta had not announced that as a locked-in plan.
Could Kerr come in first?
Yes, based on the available reporting, the Braves could use Ray Kerr before Grant Holmes if the matchups and roster situation point that way.
Manager Walt Weiss had not laid out a complete pitching plan after Atlanta’s 4-3, 10-inning loss on Wednesday. Before that game, he had said Holmes was one of the available options and was expected to pitch at some point Thursday.
That leaves room for Kerr to appear earlier, especially if Atlanta wants a left-handed option before turning to Holmes.
Where Holmes fits
The confirmed part is that Holmes was expected to pitch at some point in the elimination game. The source describes him as one of Atlanta’s steadier regular-season rotation pieces, with a 10-6 record and a 3.44 ERA.
What is not confirmed is whether Holmes would start, follow an opener, or enter later.
What to watch before first pitch
The key detail is Atlanta’s final pitching announcement. Until Weiss or the Braves make the plan public, Kerr-before-Holmes remains a possible scenario rather than a confirmed order.
Because this is a same-day playoff pitching decision, check the latest team announcement before treating the order as final.
Why might the Braves use Ray Kerr ahead of Grant Holmes?
The Braves might use Ray Kerr ahead of Grant Holmes because Kerr gives them a left-handed relief option before Holmes enters.
The practical reason
The reported reason is matchups and available personnel. Atlanta had not disclosed the full pitching plan for Game 3, but Kerr was mentioned as someone who could be used before Holmes depending on how the game lined up.
That does not mean Kerr was confirmed to pitch first. It means the Braves had flexibility.
How Holmes still factors in
Grant Holmes was still expected to pitch at some point Thursday. He was also listed among the available choices before Wednesday’s game.
The reporting points to Holmes as a reliable regular-season rotation member for Atlanta, with a 10-6 record and a 3.44 ERA. So using Kerr first would not necessarily mean avoiding Holmes. It could simply mean delaying Holmes until a better point in the game.
What is not known yet
Atlanta had not provided a full inning-by-inning plan. The open questions were:
- whether Kerr would pitch at all
- whether Kerr would enter before Holmes
- when Holmes would be used if he did not start
For the final answer, the Braves’ official game-day pitching plan is the piece to check.
Sources / Learn more
Related reading
- How does the tiebreaker work if the Guardians and White Sox finish the season tied in the AL Central?; Who wins the AL West if the Astros and Rangers finish tied at 79-81?; What’s the difference in playoff path between the AL Central division winner and the runner-up?; What does clinching the AL East and the No. 1 seed mean for the Rays heading into the playoffs?
- How often has Marvin Harrison Jr. had a low-target game over his last eight outings, and what does that pattern mean for his role in the Cardinals offense?
- When is Elizabeth Holmes expected to be released from prison given her 11¼-year sentence that started on May 30, 2023?
- When do the Cubs play their final three regular-season games against the Red Sox, and could this weekend’s storm push back the Friday doubleheader at Fenway Park?; How have Cade Horton’s elbow surgery and Ben Brown’s neck injury affected the Cubs’ pitching staff heading into the postseason?
Leave a Reply