When Atlanta Braves fans last saw Chris Sale on the mound, he was shutting out the detested Mets over 8.2 innings on a mid-June evening at Truist Park. Unfortunately, negative news, which the team has become accustomed to this year, came during the next few days.
Sale had fractured his rib cage on a diving play in the final frame of that eventual 5-0 win over the Mets, landing him on the 60-day IL. The Atlanta ace would be out until at least the stretch run of the season. That time has come.
With the Braves out of contention, many question whether Sale should return at all this year. Is it worth the potential risk in a “lost” season?
Regardless of any external opinions on the matter, Sale will take the ball for his first rehab start Tuesday night at Triple-A Gwinnett. This comes on the back of a live batting-practice session this past Thursday, in which Sale delivered 30 pitches.
#Braves Chris Sale Live BP.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) August 7, 2025
Familiar outcome for a hitter. pic.twitter.com/XUz6olINxk
Chris Sale Is Finally Returning to the Bump
Sale has made it known that he wants to be on the mound helping his team regardless of the standings. The Cy Young winner should be commended for that mentality.
“I don’t care what our record says,” Sale said last week. “I like to compete, and I want to go out there and do my job. I’ve missed enough baseball in my career that (ending the season with an injury) isn’t something that I’m okay with.”
That is exactly the type of attitude and leadership the Braves will need to pull off a big bounce-back season in 2026. It is also a display of the drive and determination that has made Sale a future resident of Cooperstown.
Sale was only adding to his Hall of Fame resume over 15 starts before the injury, as he sports a sensational 2.52 ERA with 114 strikeouts across 89.1 innings. Sale is first eligible to be activated from the IL on August 19.