The Atlanta Braves announced that left-hander Chris Sale will not start Game 2 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Sale pitched in a relief role during Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday, recording four outs on 21 pitches. Braves manager Walt Weiss indicated Friday that Sale would likely not be available until Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday, prioritizing the pitcher’s health and recovery given his recent workload.
The team will turn to lefty Ray Kerr as the opening pitcher for Game 2, with righty Grant Holmes expected to follow as the bulk reliever. This will mark Atlanta’s third consecutive game relying primarily on a bullpen approach. Kerr threw 3 ⅓ innings in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, while Holmes appeared in that same game for two innings.
The Braves have managed Sale’s workload throughout the season given his age and injury history. During the regular season, the 37-year-old started on normal rest only twice, both in April, and appeared in just three of Atlanta’s final 28 games. Sale previously won the 2024 Cy Young award but was unavailable for postseason play that year due to a back issue.
Atlanta’s pitching depth has been significantly compromised, with multiple starters on the injured list. The team’s starting rotation options are limited, contributing to the decision to deploy additional bullpen games. Sale’s unavailability for Game 2 also affects potential matchup planning later in the series, as starting him in Game 3 would likely limit his appearances to a single start in the NLDS.
In Game 1 of the NLDS, the Dodgers defeated the Braves 5-3, with home runs from Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy. Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal struck out seven batters across six innings of one-run ball. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night at Dodger Stadium.
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