The Atlanta Braves today placed left-handed pitcher Ray Kerr on the 15-day IL with a left elbow UCL injury, and it doesn't sound promising.

Braves manager Brian Snitker was asked if Kerr was expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, and Snitker confirmed that “that's the plan.”

Kerr has appeared in 10 games for the Braves this season, including a pair of starts. He last appeared on June 15 against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he allowed three walks and a home run in his lone inning of work. On the season, Kerr has a 1-2 record with a 5.64 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched.

Kerr had earned a pair of spot starts for the Braves earlier this season as the team made a concerted effort to give Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Charlie Morton an extra day of rest. Even before the season-ending injury to ace Spencer Strider, Atlanta knew that they would need to manage the bottom half of the rotation.

Sale has extensive injury history, Lopez hasn't been a starter in several years, and Morton is 40 years old.

The Braves acquired Kerr from the Padres in December of last season in exchange for minor-leaguer Drew Campbell.

Braves look to fill end of rotation after injuries to Ray Kerr, others

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (56) walks off the field against the Detroit Tigers walks off the field in the sixth inning at Truist Park.
© Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

With Strider (and now likely Kerr) lost for the season, the Braves continue to look to their prospects to fill the fifth spot in the rotation.

The Braves rushed top prospect Hurston Waldrep to the big leagues earlier this month to see if he could contribute. Waldrep was drafted less than a year ago out of Florida and had dominated at every level. Nonetheless, his promotion to Atlanta did not go as planned, as he lasted just two outings before his reported demotion back to the minors.

Unfortunately for the Braves, Waldrep never made it back to the minor leagues. The rookie told the Braves training staff that he felt more elbow soreness than usual, and thus the team placed him on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

Spencer Schwellenbach, after a pair of rough starts, has started to settle in and find his command over the last week-and-a-half.

The Braves need consistency out of the fifth spot in order to take pressure off of the top of the rotation. While the team's main four starters have all performed anywhere from well (Morton) to outstanding (Lopez), the Braves can't risk burning out their arms before the postseason.

After a five-game skid, the Braves have won eight of their last 10 games to pull within seven games of the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies.