Atlanta is using the cushion in the National League East to line up Chris Sale for October, even before the division is officially in hand. The left-hander will skip this weekend’s Houston series, make his final regular-season start against Cincinnati on Wednesday, and carry a longer runway into a possible Wild Card Series opener.
Braves Give Chris Sale a Postseason Runway
SEO Title: Braves set Chris Sale for postseason start with extended rest
SEO Description: Atlanta will hold Chris Sale out of the Astros series, giving the veteran left-hander added rest before his final regular-season outing and a potential Wild Card Series Game 1 assignment.
Sale’s Schedule Shifts Toward October
Manager Walt Weiss outlined the club’s plan before Atlanta’s 8-4 defeat to the Cubs on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. Sale will receive six additional days between outings before facing the Reds next Wednesday.
“It is a longer break, but we believe it puts him in the right spot for the postseason,” Weiss said.
The Braves have found that Sale responds well to extra recovery time. The 37-year-old ranks third among Major League pitchers with a 2.18 ERA, and regular-rest turns have been rare for him this season.
- Sale has made two starts on standard rest, most recently on April 6.
- In 13 starts with one added day off, he owns a 1.67 ERA.
- Across 11 starts with more than one extra day, his ERA stands at 2.17.
- His Wednesday outing against Cincinnati would position him for Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series with one extra day of rest.
Atlanta still had not clinched the NL East after Wednesday’s loss, but the club held a 4 1/2-game advantage over Philadelphia with nine games left on the schedule. That breathing room has allowed the Braves to prioritize Sale’s October availability rather than force him into one more turn against Houston.
Rotation Depth Took a Hit in Chicago
The Cubs series showed why Atlanta does not expect every recent starter to be part of its playoff rotation. With Bryce Elder recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the Braves turned to Reynaldo López for Monday’s opener and JR Ritchie for the series finale.
- López gave up five runs in three innings during Monday’s loss.
- He later went on the injured list after disclosing that right shoulder discomfort has troubled him throughout the season.
- Ritchie, 23, was making his ninth start of the year and his first since Aug. 2.
- He was charged with six earned runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Pete Crow-Armstrong did much of the damage against Ritchie. The Cubs star walked, homered and tripled against the rookie right-hander, while adding to a season that has included seven multihomer games. Crow-Armstrong has also emerged as a leading National League MVP candidate.
Houston Series Offers a More October-Like Look
Sale’s absence this weekend does not leave Atlanta without pitchers it expects to matter in the postseason. Tyler Mahle, Grant Holmes and Martín Pérez are slated to start the three games against the Astros.
Those three are projected to join Sale in the Braves’ October plans. For now, the club’s rotation decision is straightforward: protect the veteran who has carried a 2.18 ERA through the season, let the standings provide the room, and make sure Sale arrives at the postseason with his arm as fresh as possible.
