Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss is deferring decisions on ace pitcher Chris Sale's availability for Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sale made a decisive relief appearance in the Braves' clinching 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday night, recording the final four outs.
Weiss reported that Sale approached him proactively, expressing his readiness to pitch in relief. "Literally, as soon as I stepped in my office this afternoon, he was sitting in the chair across from my desk, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘I feel amazing,’" Weiss recounted. "So I was not going to bring it up."
Sale, who had started Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, entered Thursday's game in the eighth inning and struck out Bryce Harper before closing out the ninth. This performance, while crucial for the win, adds another layer of consideration for his pitching schedule moving forward.
Even with the added workload, Weiss stated that the conversation with Sale did not touch on potential implications for a Sunday start in Los Angeles. "I don't know. I have no idea. We weren't even worried about that. We haven't even talked about that. We didn't look past tonight," Weiss said regarding Sale's status for Game 2.
Sale's regular-season performance, where he posted a 2.16 ERA and recorded 200 strikeouts in 162 2/3 innings, often included periods of extended rest. This strategy helped maintain his strength throughout the season. His availability for Sunday would represent less than the rest he sometimes received during the regular season.
The Braves' rotation has been impacted by several injuries this season, including to pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, and Hurston Waldrep. Despite these challenges, the team secured a postseason berth.
Weiss acknowledged the team's resilience in overcoming numerous injuries. "There’s nobody on the planet that had us" in the postseason, he stated, highlighting the contributions of players like reliever Ray Kerr, who pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 and is expected to be part of the plans against the Dodgers.
Other potential options for the Braves' pitching staff include Bryce Elder, who has thrown off a mound as he nears a return from knee surgery, as well as AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie. The NL Division Series is set to begin in Los Angeles on Saturday and Sunday, before shifting to Atlanta for games on Tuesday and Wednesday. A potential Game 5 would return to Los Angeles.