In his last appearance, he pitched one inning, giving up two hits, three walks, and an earned run. Upon returning to Gwinnett, he experienced elbow pain and didn’t pitch again. The 29-year-old southpaw ended the season with disappointing stats: a 5.64 ERA over 22.1 innings, 27 strikeouts, and a 1.61 WHIP.
Kerr was known as a hard-throwing left-hander who could pitch one to three innings as needed. At one point, the Braves considered converting him into a starter for a six-man rotation. Kerr started twice this season for Atlanta, losing both games.
The Braves front office, led by Alex Anthopoulos, saw potential in Kerr last off-season. They absorbed $4 million of Matt Carpenter’s $5.5 million contract from a trade with the Padres. Kerr remains on the 40-man roster but is currently on the 15-day injured list, with the option to move to the 60-day IL if needed.
State Of The Rotation And Bullpen
The Braves are facing injuries and performance issues in their bullpen and starting rotation. They are still seeking a reliable fifth starter and looking for consistency from Charlie Morton, who has a 4.20 ERA this season with 40 runs allowed in 79.1 innings. However, the resurgence of Chris Sale and Reynaldo López, along with Max Fried’s strong performance (5-2 with a 2.09 ERA in his last eight starts), has been beneficial. The Braves’ team ERA is 3.60, ranking eighth in MLB, with a bullpen ERA of 3.21, trailing only the Guardians and Dodgers.
Help is on the Horizon
With Ray Kerr’s injury, the Braves needed a left-handed option and might soon see veteran lefty A.J. Minter return. Minter, on the IL since May 30 with hip inflammation, began his rehab assignment in High-A Rome, pitching one inning with three strikeouts. He moved to Triple-A Gwinnett and could rejoin the bullpen soon. Minter had a 2.95 ERA in 21.1 innings across 25 appearances before his injury.
Another potential return is postseason hero Ian Anderson, recovering from Tommy John surgery in April 2023. Anderson recently started for the FCL Braves, pitching two hitless innings and three innings with three hits, three strikeouts, and one run.
He will continue his rehab in High-A Rome. With the fifth starter spot still open, Anderson’s return could fill this role, given his 4-0 record and 1.26 ERA in eight postseason appearances.
**Candidates On The Chopping Block**
Three pitchers—Daysbel Hernandez, Grant Holmes, and Spencer Schwellenbach—could be sent down to Triple-A after these returns. Hernandez or Holmes might be demoted when Minter is ready. Holmes, with less MLB experience, is more likely to be sent down despite his minor league journey.
Schwellenbach might return to Triple-A if Anderson returns without setbacks. The 24-year-old has shown potential but could use more development time. Next year could be his opportunity, with Max Fried’s free agency and Charlie Morton’s potential retirement on the horizon.
