Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves was ruled out for Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets due to back spasms as the Braves needed a win to advance to the playoffs.
Right-hander Grant Holmes, who is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA this season, started in place of Sale. Sale, a candidate to win the National League Cy Young Award, was 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA this season.
Editor’s Tips
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos described Sales’ back spasms as a “common occurrence” when he spoke to the media Monday after Game 1 of a doubleheader. That won’t stop Sale from starting in a Wild Card Series game that could begin Tuesday against the San Diego Padres if the Braves win Game 2 of the doubleheader.
It was decided not to start sales this afternoon to avoid the risk of further injury. Sales’ fastball velocity dropped in his last regular-season start on Sept. 19 against Cincinnati. At this launch he averaged 92.7 mph, having averaged 95.9 mph at the previous launch on September 14th.
The Braves needed to win one of two games on Monday to secure a wild-card spot. In Game 1, they started Spencer Wechselbach, who pitched a gem until the eighth inning as the Braves blew a three-run lead and then took a one-run lead in the ninth inning to lose the game to the Mets.
A win for the Braves in Game 2 on Monday would give them a chance to face the Padres on Tuesday, while a loss would secure the No. 6 seed to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the No. 5 seed to the Mets, who will face the Padres.
