Braves Tap Bullpen Over Sale for NLDS Game 2, Potentially Aiding Dodgers
Atlanta opts to save its ace for Game 3, a decision that could benefit Los Angeles as they aim to build on their Game 1 lead.
The Atlanta Braves will begin Game 2 of their National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers without staff ace Chris Sale, opting instead for a second consecutive bullpen game. Left-hander Ray Kerr is slated to be the opener.
The decision was anticipated following Sale's usage in the wild-card series, where he pitched 6 ⅓ innings in Game 1 and then appeared in relief two days later for the final outs of Game 3. This choice means Sale will have additional rest, with his first potential start in the NLDS now scheduled for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Braves manager Walt Weiss stated before Game 1 that Sale would pitch in the series, emphasizing that the Dodgers could not win it in two games, suggesting the timing of Sale's start was less critical. However, delaying Sale's outing could come at a cost. If he were to have started Game 2, he could have been available for a potential Game 5 start on normal rest. As it stands, with a Game 3 start, he would only have two days of rest for a hypothetical Game 5, likely limiting him to a relief appearance.
This strategy places a significant burden on the Braves' bullpen, which also had a substantial workload in the wild-card round. Kerr, the scheduled opener for Game 2, pitched 3 ⅓ innings and threw 47 pitches in his wild-card series appearance. Key relief arms such as Raisel Iglesias, Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Didier Fuentes may need to pitch multiple times throughout the series.
The Dodgers, who won Game 1 by a score of 5-3, could benefit from this approach. Their lineup has a history of adjusting to relievers they see multiple times in a postseason series. Furthermore, the Dodgers boast a strong starting rotation featuring Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, with Tarik Skubal also available. The Braves' decision to rely on their bullpen in Game 2 and potentially limit Sale's availability in a longer series might play into the Dodgers' hands as they seek to advance.