Chris Sale Nears Return to Braves
The Atlanta Braves are suddenly showing signs of life after a difficult season, riding their longest winning streak of the year and clawing back into contention. Winners of nine of their last eleven, the team is starting to look more like the contender many expected back in April.
A big part of that resurgence has been the play of Michael Harris II, who continues to look like one of baseball’s brightest young stars. Marcell Ozuna has rediscovered his power stroke after a lengthy slump, while Jurickson Profar has brought much-needed energy since returning from his suspension. And the reinforcements don’t stop there.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is back from the IL, already making an impact at the top of the lineup, and Austin Riley is nearing a return from an abdominal injury. But perhaps the most important addition could be Chris Sale, who is inching closer to rejoining Atlanta’s rotation.
Sale’s second rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday showed both rust and promise. He struggled early, allowing four straight baserunners in the first inning, but quickly settled down and gave up just one run across four innings. The left-hander struck out four, finishing with 56 pitches — a solid step forward in his buildup.
The Braves now face a decision: activate him after one more outing or give him additional time in the minors. His next appearance is expected to push his workload to around 75 pitches, and there’s a chance that could come in the majors — potentially against the Mets, the very team he faced when he fractured his rib cage earlier this season.
Given Atlanta’s position in the standings and Sale’s lengthy injury history, caution may win out. A final rehab start is the safer bet, but one thing is clear: the 2024 NL Cy Young winner is close to returning, and his presence could dramatically change the outlook of the Braves’ pitching staff.
If Sale can stabilize the rotation and pitch anything like the dominant version fans saw last year, Atlanta’s late-season surge may become more than just a hot streak. His return, combined with the reemergence of key hitters, could make the Braves one of the most dangerous “spoilers” in baseball — and maybe even an outside playoff threat if their momentum continues.
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