Ray Kerr Has Message for Non-Believers After Bullpen Day Win

The Atlanta Braves are heading home with the National League Division Series tied at one game apiece, and Ray Kerr was a big reason why.

The 32-year-old left-hander pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out four. He struck out Shohei Ohtani once before leaving with Atlanta still holding the lead and the bullpen ready to close it out.

It was another strong postseason outing for Kerr, who has quickly become one of the more reliable arms Walt Weiss has turned to in October.

He also opened Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, throwing three scoreless innings in a 6-2 win that sent the Braves into the NLDS. He has now delivered in two separate high-leverage spots this postseason without struggling.

The performance came as Atlanta once again leaned heavily on its bullpen. With Chris Sale being saved for Game 3 against the Dodgers, Weiss needed multiple relievers to cover innings against the best offense in the National League.

The plan worked from the first pitch. Kerr set the tone, Didier Fuentes followed in the later innings with 3 2/3 innings of his own, allowing just one run on a solo homer by Max Muncy in the ninth.

Closer Raisel Iglesias came in and recorded the final out for the save. The Braves held Los Angeles to six hits and two runs across nine innings without using a traditional starting pitcher.

After the game, Kerr was asked what he would say to those who still doubt Atlanta's bullpen. "Don't sleep on us. Underdogs always can do something. You ever seen Sandlot? C'mon," Kerr said, per Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Michael Harris gave the bullpen some room to work with offensively, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and an RBI. He was a home run shy of the second-ever cycle in MLB postseason history.

Atlanta never trailed and evened the series before heading home, which was the only goal that mattered on Sunday night.

The series now shifts to Truist Park for Game 3 on Tuesday with Sale on the mound and Tyler Mahle lined up for Game 4. The Braves get their rotation back in order and their home crowd behind them. Kerr and the bullpen made that possible, and based on what he said after the game, he has no plans to slow down.