The Atlanta Braves announced that their top left-handed pitcher, Chris Sale, will not start Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) on Sunday. Sale had pitched briefly in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday, throwing 21 pitches over four outs. Braves manager Walt Weiss emphasized the team’s desire to have Sale fully healthy, noting that starting him in Game 2 might not showcase his best form.
Instead, left-hander Ray Kerr, who delivered a strong 3⅓-inning relief performance as an opener in Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, will start Game 2. Right-hander Grant Holmes is expected to follow Kerr as the primary reliever, having thrown two innings on 28 pitches in the previous game. This Game 2 outing will mark the Braves’ third consecutive game relying heavily on their bullpen.
Throughout the regular season, the Braves cautiously managed Sale’s workload, giving him extended rest between starts. Sale, 37, appeared on standard rest only twice during the season, both early in April, and made just three starts in the final 28 games to preserve his health. Despite winning the 2024 Cy Young Award, Sale missed the postseason last year due to a back injury that occurred late in the regular season.
In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, Sale allowed three runs over 6⅓ innings while throwing 95 pitches. His relief appearance in Game 3 on just one day of rest marked his first short-rest outing since his time as a reliever with the Chicago White Sox in 2011, and his shortest rest since the 2018 playoffs. The Braves entered the postseason with several key starters sidelined due to injuries, leaving their rotation in a fragile state. Their current starting pitching depth chart includes only a few healthy options beyond Sale, with multiple pitchers out due to surgeries or inflammation.
Tyler Mahle, despite a minor abdominal injury before Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, pitched seven innings allowing just one run on 95 pitches. Left-hander Dylan Dodd opened Game 1 of the NLDS with three scoreless innings before reliever AJ Smith-Shawver took over. With limited options, relying on another bullpen game was the Braves’ primary choice for Game 2 since Mahle’s short rest due to injury concerns makes him a risky option.
Sale’s absence from the Game 2 starting role impacts the series strategy, as starting him would have allowed for a potential Game 5 start on normal rest if necessary. Now, with Sale likely starting only one game in the NLDS, the Braves might have to depend on his relief appearances. Failure to start Sale in Game 3 would put the Braves in a tough position.
The secured a 5-3 victory in Game 1 of the NLDS, powered by home runs from Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy. Tarik Skubal, acquired at the trade deadline and a two-time AL Cy Young winner, struck out seven over six innings, yielding just one run. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night at Stadium.
Fan Take: Chris Sale’s health and availability are crucial to the Braves’ postseason hopes, reflecting how a single star pitcher can shape a team’s playoff outlook. This situation highlights the growing impact of injuries and pitch count management on baseball’s strategic evolution, making pitching depth and bullpen strength more important than ever for postseason success.
Source: www.cbssports.com
