The Atlanta Braves won’t be getting Chris Sale back in time for the start of the postseason.
Braves manager Brian Snitker confirmed on Monday night, after they snuck into the playoffs with a win over the New York Mets, that their star pitcher likely won't be available for their wild-card series against the San Diego Padres. Sale was supposed to pitch in their 3-0 win over the Mets — which was part of a must-win rescheduled doubleheader — but he was scratched at the last minute due to back spasms.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters he does not expect National League Cy Young favorite Chris Sale, who was scratched today with back spasms, to pitch in their wild card series against San Diego. Massive loss for the Braves, whose rotation is now in flux.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 30, 2024
It's unclear how long Sale will be sidelined with the injury, or if he'd be available for the team in later rounds should they advance.
Those spasms apparently first hit Sale on Sunday night, and they were bad enough to keep him off the mound on Monday. Rookie Grant Holmes, who had made just six starts all season, took his place and still led the Braves to the win. Holmes had seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit in his four innings on the mound.
Despite not pitching on Monday, Sale still locked up the NL Triple Crown on Monday. He finished the season with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal won the AL Triple Crown on Sunday, too. This is now just the second time in the last century that pitchers have won the Triple Crown in both leagues in the same season.
Sale, who was one of the league's best pitchers early in his career, is now sure to win the Cy Young Award this season for the first time. Sale being healthy was a big reason for the Braves' success this season, too. The Braves finished the year with an 89-73 record and earned their seventh straight postseason berth. This is the first time in that timespan that they've failed to win the NL East, however.
With Sale unavailable, it’s unclear who will start for the Braves in Game 1 of their wild-card series with the Padres on Tuesday night in California or what that rotation will look like. The Padres finished second in the NL West with a 93-69 record to earn a spot in the playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons. The winner of their series will advance to the NLDS to take on the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers.
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