The Atlanta Braves finally got the news they’ve been waiting on. Chris Sale is back. The club announced Saturday morning that the veteran left-hander has been activated from the 60-day injured list. This clears the way for him to start after more than two months on the sidelines.
Sale’s return has been circled for weeks by manager Brian Snitker, who hinted that Saturday’s game would likely be his landing spot. In the corresponding roster move, right-hander Nathan Wiles was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett — another short stay in Atlanta, where he gets a day’s service time and paycheck before returning to the Stripers.
From Cy Young Push to Fractured Ribs
The timing of Sale’s injury was brutal. On June 18, he was a strike away from finishing off a complete-game shutout when he made a diving play to preserve the effort — and fractured a pair of ribs in the process. At that moment, Sale looked like he was charging into the Cy Young race. Instead, he spent the next 10 weeks rehabbing, leaving the Braves scrambling to cover his rotation spot.
Since then, the team has tried a revolving door of solutions — prospects, trades, even bullpen games — none of which truly filled the void. Getting Sale back, even for the final month, is as much about stabilizing the present as it is preparing for 2026.
Laying Groundwork for Next Season
Sale has been candid about his goals in returning this year: set himself up for a full, healthy campaign next season. “It would be hard to push toward that 200-inning mark next year,” Sale said earlier this month after a live BP session. “So, I think being able to get some innings under my belt this year is going to protect me for next year.”
A strong finish would also give him the kind of normal offseason that eluded him last winter, when rehab dominated his routine. After missing his final scheduled start of his Cy Young season due to back spasms, just closing out 2025 on the mound would be a meaningful step forward.
Braves Rotation Moving Forward
With Sale back, Atlanta’s rotation looks much clearer. The group should line up as: Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, Joey Wentz, and Bryce Elder. Elder is coming off a strong start against the Phillies, while Cal Quantrill appears destined for bullpen duty after continued struggles.
Other arms are done for the season, while Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo López may get as far as live batting practice before winter arrives. Grant Holmes and AJ Smith-Shawver, meanwhile, are expected to miss at least the start of 2026, if not longer.
For now, the Braves can exhale. After two and a half months of patchwork rotations, Chris Sale is back on the mound — and if he can finish strong, it won’t just stabilize the present, it will set the stage for a bigger run in 2026.
