The Atlanta Braves said after Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals that left-hander Ray Kerr will start the series finale on Thursday, not the originally announced right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez would have been on "regular" four days of rest, which he's only done once this season -- in his last start on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he had his shortest outing (4 2/3 innings) and fewest strikeouts (three) of the year. He has had five to six days of rest in all his previous starts in 2024. It's possible that the 30-year-old will be pushed back just one day to Friday in a much better matchup against the Oakland Athletics. Kerr, 29, made his first start of the year on May 24 against the Pirates and allowed five earned runs in four innings for his first loss of the season. He won't be a recommended fantasy streamer against the Nats.

The Atlanta Braves recalled left-hander Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, and he will make the start in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road. It will be the first start of Kerr's major-league career, although he's appeared in 33 games the last three seasons in a relief role for Atlanta and the San Diego Padres, sporting a 4.57 ERA (4.42 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 13 walks and 48 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He's made four appearances in relief for the Braves in 2024, allowing three earned runs on nine hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out 10 in 9 1/3 frames. In his last outing on Monday against his former team, the Padres, Kerr went 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs. Although it's a solid matchup, Kerr isn't going to go very deep into Friday's contest and should be avoided as a fantasy streamer.