Back Spasms Sideline Braves’ Ace in Crucial Playoff Push

In a pivotal moment for the Atlanta Braves‘ playoff hopes, ace pitcher Chris Sale was a late scratch from Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets due to back spasms. This development comes as the Braves require a victory to advance to the postseason. Right-handed reliever Matt Wisler, with a 2-1 record and a 3.78 ERA this season, replaced Sale in the starting lineup.

Sale, a frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award, has had an outstanding season with an 18-3 record and a 2.38 ERA. Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos described Sale’s condition as “a day-to-day thing” in comments to the media following Game 1. This suggests that Sale’s absence from the game does not rule out his participation in a potential wild-card series against the San Diego Padres, contingent upon a Braves win in Game 2.

Concern over Sale’s health grew following his previous outing against the Cincinnati Reds on September 19, where a noticeable dip in his fastball velocity was observed, averaging 92.7 mph compared to 95.9 mph on September 14. The decision to bench Sale was made earlier that day to prevent risking further injury.

In Game 1, the Braves initially seemed poised for victory with a strong performance from starter Max Fried, who dominated until the eighth inning. However, the Braves’ defense faltered, squandering a three-run lead and eventually losing to the Mets.

A win in Game 2 would see the Braves face the Padres Tuesday, but a loss would see Atlanta miss out on hosting a wild-card series, with the Padres instead facing the fifth seed New York Mets.