Two months after suffering a rib injury, Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale stepped back onto the mound on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sale pitched 6.0 innings, striking out nine batters and giving up a single run. The veteran's dominance was a reminder of what the Braves have been missing: the bright future that can still be ahead. If the front office is willing to invest in the bullpen and rebuild the lineup, Atlanta already has a postseason rotation.
It isn't just Sale that has missed time with AJ Smith-Shawver, Grant Holmes, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo Lopez, and Spencer Strider all either currently on the injured list or previously spending extensive time there. One of the few bright sides of this has been the emergence of potential frontline starter Hurston Waldrep.
Sale's return to the mound was a reminder of just what has been lost and the potential that is still ahead. Only Smith-Shawver isn't expected to be ready for the 2026 season, with the rest of the rotation already healthy or poised to return next season. The Braves only need to consider adding depth pieces behind what has the potential to be an incredible rotation.
Chris Sale's Return Reminding Braves Fans of Rotation's Postseason Potential
Sale is the definition of a gamer able to set the tone for the talented pieces behind him. It is easy to imagine what could be if Atlanta is willing to spend the money to fix the depth issues that have been exposed throughout 2025. A poor approach at the plate and zero bullpen depth are easily fixable issues that can have the Braves back in postseason contention next season.
If this happens, Atlanta has the ability to use a trio of Sale, Strider, and Schwellenbach as their first three postseason options. This leaves out Holmes, Waldrep, and Lopez who all have legitimate arguments as postseason-worthy starters. The Braves have six great options for the rotation and a wildcard in Smith-Shawver, who could return at some point in the 2025 season.
Even with the Braves dropping Saturday's game 3-2 against the Phillies, Saturday's start was a breath of fresh air for Atlanta fans. Even after two months away from the team, Sale was ready to roll and put together a dominating performance. One that showed no hint of aging or slowing down as we head into the season's final month.
Atlanta has the starting pitching needed to match up against any of the National League's current contenders. A needed reminder in the middle of an infuriating season. While getting healthy isn't going to fix all of the team's obvious issues, it will go a long way in pushing the franchise back into relevance.
Sale is setting it all up from the top and using the last month of the season to continue to remind Atlanta fans of his importance and what the franchise can become when the rotation is once again healthy after a pivotal Braves 2026 offseason.