Chris Sale has been a part of Atlanta's problems to start the season when the team has needed a tone-setter most. Sale is supposed to be the veteran steadying the pitching staff until Spencer Strider's return. Giving the Braves at least one arm and a day they can count on having a great chance at victory. However, the opposite has been true for Sale in the first weeks of the season. Sale has a 0-2 record and hasn't been able to pitch deep into any game he has appeared in.
This leaves a myriad of concerns about what exactly the Braves are going to get from Sale moving forward. At least the veteran hasn't shown a noticeable dip in velocity and has given no hint of dealing with an injury. Injuries have plagued Atlanta for the last season, and with Sale's early season struggles, that has to be the first concern that enters the minds of fans.
#Braves' Chris Sale, who fell to 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA in four starts: "I don't know if I've ever been this frustrated. Honestly. I mean, it's just...I feel like I'm just banging my fucking head against the wall right now, and I'm getting nothing out of it."
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 13, 2025
Chris Sale Admits His Struggles, Furthering the Respect Fans Have for Him
This is the type of quote you expect from the gamer that Chris Sale has demonstrated he is. It doesn't excuse the struggles or help wipe away the frustration from Atlanta's miserable start. However, it will further endear Sale to Atlanta fans and show that no one wants to fix the issues more than the veteran starter.
Considering how elite the 2024 production was from Sale, the veteran has earned a bit more grace for a slow start to the season. What is truly unfortunate is that this is a theme across Atlanta's roster, with Marcell Ozuna really being the lone Atlanta veteran who hasn't hurt the team at some point in the first games of the season.
Braves fans can trust that Sale's competitive spirit and hatred for losing will fuel the pitcher to figure it out. Age shouldn't yet be factoring into a decline in numbers, and all of the pitches are still there for the veteran. It has simply been a case of missed execution and opposing hitters not missing Sale's mistakes.
Taking advantage of the veteran's frustration is one of the few holes in his game. While it is what often fuels Sale, it can also work to his detriment. The veteran is going to figure things out and simply needs to take a step back and realize there is a long season ahead with his quality of pitches simply being too high for this level of struggles to continue.