Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale will be unavailable for the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres due to back issues. Sale, a leading contender for the National League Cy Young Award, was unexpectedly scratched from the regular season finale against the New York Mets.
Manager Brian Snitker confirmed that the Braves will proceed without their top starting pitcher in the best-of-three series set to start on Tuesday. The team plans to reevaluate Sale’s condition if they advance to the Division Series.
“He wants to step up,” Snitker remarked. “We’re hoping that some additional rest will allow us to have him ready for the next round.”
In Sale’s absence, pitcher Grant Holmes delivered a strong performance against the Mets, allowing only one hit over four innings in a 3-0 victory that secured a wild-card playoff berth for Atlanta. The Mets also reached the postseason with an exhilarating 8-7 win in the earlier game of the doubleheader, which ultimately led to the elimination of the defending NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks. All three teams ended the season with 89-73 records, but the Braves and Mets held tiebreakers over the Diamondbacks.
Snitker noted that Sale, who holds an impressive record of 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA this season, has dealt with back problems intermittently throughout the year. The issue became more pronounced following his most recent start on September 19 against Cincinnati, during which his velocity noticeably decreased.
“His back tightened up in Cincinnati, and this isn’t the first time he has experienced these issues this season,” Snitker stated. “He understands how to manage it.”
Sale was originally scheduled to pitch last Wednesday against the Mets, but that game was postponed due to rain. The timeframe for his start kept shifting as Snitker aimed to keep him ready for a critical game.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos explained that the recent back spasms developed after Sale’s throwing session on Sunday. Despite maintaining his throwing routine, Sale reported tightness in his back shortly after.
“He has been throwing all week to stay in rhythm,” Anthopoulos said. “He mentioned that his back felt tight after his workout, but he insisted that he had competed through worse conditions.”
Anthopoulos stated that a decision was reached on the day of the doubleheader indicating Sale would not pitch. Holmes learned he would be starting the second game just thirty minutes before taking the mound.
“After further discussions, we determined this was the right call,” Anthopoulos added. “This is not a long-term injury but more a day-to-day concern. If it were safe for him to pitch, we would proceed. Regardless, he’ll be important for us as we look forward.”
Following the doubleheader, Snitker indicated that Sale’s situation might be more serious than initially thought, meaning he is unlikely to be ready until at least the second round of the playoffs.
This setback is particularly frustrating for Sale, who has faced various injuries since 2018, but had managed to navigate his first season with the Braves without significant issues until now. The Braves are now exploring options, which may include recalling a pitcher from their Triple-A roster to fill Sale’s spot against the Padres.
Top prospects such as Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver have remained active since the conclusion of the minor league season, as has Ian Anderson, who has faced challenges with injuries since his successful postseason appearances in 2020 and 2021.
“All of them will be considered options,” Snitker noted.