MLB is introducing one of the biggest rule changes in league history this season, and the Atlanta Braves dedicated Thursday's practice to learning it. The new rule is the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, which gives teams two challenges per game for ball and strike calls.

Braves pitcher Chris Sale explained why he may not initiate challenges, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman.

“I'm a starting pitcher,” the 36-year-old said. “I've never called balls and strikes in my life. Plus, I'm greedy. I know that I think they're all strikes, especially with the catchers nowadays, the way they catch the ball, the way they receive, they make them all look like strikes.”

The rule allows pitchers, catchers, and batters to initiate challenges, and they get to keep the challenge when successful. However, Sale may not want to risk wasting a challenge even if he disagrees with the call, since he thinks he always throws strikes. That self-awareness could be the difference between winning and losing close games in this new landscape.

Atlanta began spring training with a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. The Rays out-hit the Braves 9-7, but the latter team's slugging made the difference.

Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski opened the scoring with a 423-foot solo homer to center field in the first inning, and fellow outfielder Ben Gamel followed up with a 419-foot homer to right center in the second and a two-run double in the third. Designated hitter Kyle Farmer then hit an RBI single in the third, giving Atlanta a 5-0 lead.

Tampa Bay's only run came from a solo homer by second baseman Luke Davidson in the sixth off of reliever Elieser Hernandez. Braves starter Carlos Carrasco earned the win after throwing two scoreless innings to kick off the game, a positive way to start his campaign after posting a 7.09 ERA across 11 starts last season. 

Atlanta used seven pitchers, and they logged a combined 12 strikeouts against just one walk. Southpaw Dylan Dodd tossed a scoreless third inning, fellow southpaw Hayden Harris tossed a scoreless fourth, and right-hander James Karinchak threw a scoreless fifth.

Hernandez then allowed the one run over two innings before right-handers Austin Pope and Sean Reid-Foley threw hitless frames in the eighth and ninth, respectively.

Up next for the Braves is a matchup with the Minnesota Twins on Sunday before facing the Baltimore Orioles on Monday and the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.