Weiss said Chris Sale's next start date is undecided after making a relief appearance on Thursday.
In the top of the eighth inning of Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series, the Atlanta Braves held a 6-2 lead over the Philadelphia Phillies with four outs to go. With Bryce Harper due up for the Phillies, the Braves opted to bring in their ace to close things out.
Atlanta called on Chris Sale, who had started Game 1 of the series, to get the final four outs of the series. The southpaw did just that in a gritty outing, putting an end to Philadelphia’s season as the team now turns their attention to an NLDS date with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, the Braves’ rotation options are looking mighty slim just one day ahead of the series opener.
Sale, in particular, could have been lined up to start Sunday’s Game 2 of the series, but due to his relief outing on Thursday where he went 1 ⅓ innings and tossed 21 pitches, his status for making that start may be in question.
On Friday, Braves manager Walt Weiss said the possibility of Sale starting Game 2 on Sunday is still on the table, but is dependent on how Sale feels going into it. However, that possibility seems to be unlikely, according to Alden González of ESPN.
“We’re gonna err on the side of giving him (time to rest) if it’s even close,” Weiss said.
Correspondingly, Weiss also confirmed that starting pitchers Bryce Elder and Martín Pérez will not be available for the NLDS, making the Braves’ rotation options in the series that much slimmer. However, if the Braves were to advance, the two pitchers will likely be ready to pitch in the NLCS.
Holmes did not start on Thursday, but did pitch two innings for a total of 28 pitches. Given that the appearance was two days before Game 1 of the NLDS, he is a doubtful option to start that game on Saturday.
Tyler Mahle, the Braves’ standout trade deadline acquisition, had solidified himself as the Braves’ No. 2 option in the rotation down the stretch. He earned a Game 2 start in the Wild Card series and allowed just one run over seven efficient innings against the Phillies.
Mahle will likely get the nod to start Game 3 when the series pivots to Atlanta, given that he made his start on Wednesday. If Sale were to be pushed back until then, he would likely start Game 4 of the series instead.
Atlanta will likely go with a bullpen game in Game 1 due to the slimmed rotation, but their bullpen has been among one of the league’s best and can carry some innings if needed.
