Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss has a decision to make involving Chris Sale.
The Atlanta Braves have continued to roll through April as one of the best teams in baseball, entering the week with a 15-7 record and a starting rotation that has carried the early success.
But even with the momentum, manager Walt Weiss is facing a decision involving his ace, Chris Sale. The 37-year-old left-hander has been dominant to open the 2026 MLB season, and while he remains the clear No. 1 in Atlanta’s rotation, the Braves are weighing whether to give him extra rest after a taxing outing that included him tossing 101 pitches.
Weiss addressed the situation directly when speaking with reporters on Monday. “With Fuentes being scratched yesterday, I asked Weiss if he's still planning for Sale to start Thursday on regular rest. Walt said because Sale threw 101 pitches in a tough environment, they've had ongoing discussions. But he says for now, the plan is for Sale to start Thursday,” reported Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
The mention of Didier Fuentes is significant. The 20-year-old right-hander is one of Atlanta’s top pitching prospects. He was scratched from his scheduled start last week and is now available to the big-league club.
Fuentes has already debuted in the majors and could step in if the Braves decide to push Sale back. The organization has been careful with its pitching depth, and giving Sale an extra day or two would not be surprising given his workload and age.
Sale’s importance to the Braves cannot be overstated. Now in his third season with Atlanta after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox, he has exceeded every expectation.
He won his first career Cy Young Award with the Braves and earned All-Star selections in each of his first two seasons. He is on track for a third straight appearance this year, opening 2026 with a 4-1 record, 2.79 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 29 innings. He still looks like the dominant version of himself, and the Braves have benefited enormously from his resurgence.
But with that dominance comes responsibility. Sale has a lot of mileage on his arm, and for a first-place team in the National League East with championship aspirations, his long-term health is the priority.
Weiss and the front office will continue evaluating whether Thursday is the right time for his next start or whether Fuentes should step in to give Sale a breather. For now, the plan remains for Sale to pitch, but the Braves know this is a decision worth monitoring closely.