Let’s talk about Chris Sale—the man who absolutely dominated the National League last season and is now set to kick off the Atlanta Braves 2025 campaign in Spring Training.
If you followed Sale’s resurgence in 2024, you know this isn’t just any ordinary first spring start.
This is the beginning of what Atlanta hopes will be another ace-level season from their Cy Young winner.
Sale Set to Start Braves’ First Spring Game
Multiple reports confirmed on February 18 that Sale will take the mound for the Braves’ first Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins this Saturday.
It’s Spring Training, so let’s not get carried away—he’s only expected to throw a few innings. But let’s be honest, it’s still an important moment.
Sale had a fantastic spring in 2024, and while we all know good preseason numbers don’t guarantee success, his strong showing last year certainly set the tone for what became a career-reviving season.
A Dominant 2024 Season
And what a season it was. Sale went 18-3 with a dominant 2.38 ERA, leading the NL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts (225).
He was untouchable. He also led the league in strikeouts per nine innings, ERA+, FIP, and home runs allowed per nine innings.
Not bad for a guy who hadn’t thrown more than 102.2 innings in a season from 2020 to 2023 due to injuries. But in 2024? He led the Braves with 177.2 innings.
Of course, the end of the season was a little rough. Sale missed the final week of the regular season with a back issue and was left off the playoff roster for the Wild Card series against the Padres.
That was a huge blow for Atlanta, and you better believe the team is counting on him to be fully healthy in 2025—especially with the state of the Braves’ rotation.
The Braves Need Sale to Be an Ace Again
Here’s the reality: Atlanta lost Max Fried and Charlie Morton in free agency.
Spencer Strider is also expected to be sidelined for at least the season’s first month.
That means Sale isn’t just the opening act—he’s the headliner. The Braves need him to be the ace from day one.
So, while Saturday’s game is technically “just” Spring Training, it’s still a chance for Sale to show he’s ready to roll.
If his 2024 comeback was any indication, Braves fans should be excited about what’s to come.
