The Atlanta Braves suffered a significant blow to their postseason hopes with the indefinite loss of star pitcher Chris Sale, who cracked his rib cage during a defensive play. The injury puts a major dent in both Sale’s bid for a second Cy Young Award and the Braves’ push for an eighth consecutive playoff berth.
Injury Details
Sale, known for his elite defense after earning a Gold Glove last season, injured himself making a full-extension dive to field an infield dribbler by Juan Soto in the ninth inning of a 5-0 victory over the Mets. Although he completed the out, he exited the game with a fractured rib on his left side, an injury that could sideline him for months.
This isn’t Sale’s first rib injury—he previously missed half a season in 2022 after a similar issue with his right ribs while with the Red Sox.
Prior to the injury, the 36-year-old lefty was in dominant form, throwing a season-high 116 pitches and nearly completing the game. His ERA dropped to 2.52, placing him third in the National League behind Logan Webb and Paul Skenes. Sale had also been a frontrunner to start the All-Star Game at Truist Park.
Key Contributor
Now in his second year with Atlanta after a trade from Boston for Vaughn Grissom, Sale captured the National League pitching Triple Crown last season with league-leading marks in wins (18), ERA (2.38), and strikeouts (225). He’s under a two-year, $38 million contract extension and is earning $22 million this year, with a club option that could keep him in Atlanta through 2026.
With a career strikeout rate of 11.1 per nine innings—second-best among starters—Sale had continued to dominate, striking out 30.8% of opposing hitters while walking just 7% over 89⅓ innings this season.
Rotation Challenges
His injury came after the Braves strategically delayed his start by three days to ensure he could pitch both legs of a home-and-away series against the Mets. Those games could be pivotal as the Braves try to make up ground in the NL East.
Atlanta, which began the season with a seven-game losing streak and endured another later, has seen improvement following the return of stars Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider in May. But the team now faces a massive void in the rotation.
Strider, who led the league in wins and strikeouts in 2023 but missed most of last year due to elbow surgery, will be expected to shoulder the load. He recently bounced back from a rough start to the season with two strong wins, including a 13-strikeout outing.
Thin Rotation
Manager Brian Snitker now leans heavily on Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Grant Holmes, with Bryce Elder and rookie Didier Fuentes potentially rounding out the rotation. The Braves have also lost Reynaldo López (shoulder inflammation) and A.J. Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery) from their starting mix.
Even a midseason trade is unlikely to fully replace Sale’s production. His track record is elite, but so are his injury woes, which have included shoulder issues, a torn UCL, and multiple bone fractures over the years.
In-house options include Ian Anderson, Hurston Waldrep, Davis Daniel, and 20-year-old Fuentes—the youngest Braves starter since 1970.
Playoff Picture
Atlanta is currently third in the NL East with a 35-40 record, trailing the Mets and Phillies by 10 games. Despite their rough start and slim wild-card hopes—they’re six games back with five teams ahead—Sale’s injury adds yet another hurdle to an already difficult road to the postseason.
