The Braves introduced their roster for the wild-card collection Tuesday and it doesn’t embody left-hander Chris Sale. The membership goes with a good cut up of 13 pitchers and place gamers, the latter group together with two catchers, 5 infielders and 6 outfielders.
Sale had a superb bounce-back season in 2024 and could possibly be awarded a Cy Younger trophy in just a few weeks, however the marketing campaign ended on a irritating word. He hasn’t taken the mound since Sept. 19 towards the Reds. In that outing, Sale’s velocity was down and he hasn’t pitched since. Up till Monday, it appeared as if the membership was simply holding Sale to see if it will want him for a do-or-die sport, in any other case hoping to carry him again for the primary sport of the wild-card spherical.
Going into Monday’s double-header, which was necessitated after two midweek video games between the Mets and Atlanta have been delayed by Hurricane Helene, each golf equipment wanted a victory to safe a playoff spot. Spencer Schwellenbach began Sport 1, which the Mets went on to win, 8-7. It was anticipated that Sale would take the ball for the second contest, however the membership then introduced that Sale had been scratched with again spasms. The difficulty had flared up throughout that begin towards the Reds, and he saved hoping to have the ability to return to the mound, however it didn’t enhance after which worsened on Sunday evening, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com (X hyperlinks).
Based mostly on Sale being left off the Wild Card roster, it may be assumed that the membership doesn’t count on him to be sport prepared within the subsequent few days. As talked about, he’s having a terrific season and undoubtedly would have been part of its plans if he have been wholesome. He made 29 begins this yr with a 2.38 earned run common, 32.1% strikeout price, 5.6% stroll price and 44.8% floor ball price.
With out Sale, the membership should get artistic to outlive towards the Padres. Because of the aforementioned double-header scenario, it used a number of arms Monday. Schwellenbach began the primary sport and Grant Holmes the second. Neither of these pitchers are on the roster, both, which is sensible since they in all probability wouldn’t be obtainable for just a few days anyway.
Max Fried and Reynaldo López will probably begin sport two and three respectively, as they’d be on regular relaxation for these contests following their final common season outings. Charlie Morton began on Sunday and may not be obtainable early within the collection, although he’s on the roster.
For Tuesday, the membership could also be trying to get some innings out of Bryce Elder or AJ Smith-Shawver. Neither has been an enormous a part of the membership’s efficiency of late, however they might have to step up whereas the bullpen is taxed and the membership can’t flip to Sale, Schwellenbach or Holmes. Elder posted a 6.52 ERA within the massive leagues this yr whereas often being optioned to the minors. He had a stable 3.73 ERA in Triple-A this yr however hasn’t pitched for the big-league membership since August 6.
Smith-Shawver solely pitched as soon as within the majors this yr, a spot begin of 4 1/3 innings in Could. He has a 4.85 ERA in Triple-A on the yr, although he completed considerably sturdy with a 3.68 ERA over his final seven begins.
Along with Elder and Smith-Shawver, Atlanta’s playoff roster consists of Fried, Lopez, Morton, Aaron Bummer, Jesse Chavez, Daysbel Hernández, Raisel Iglesias, Luke Jackson, Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson and Dylan Lee. On the place participant facet, they’ve catchers Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, infielders Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia, Whit Merrifield, Matt Olson and Gio Urshela, in addition to outfielders Michael Harris II, Jarred Kelenic, Ramón Laureano, Marcell Ozuna, Jorge Soler and Eli White.
