As announced Sunday, the Atlanta Braves have set their rotation for the long-overdue first meeting of the year with their division rivals. The series will open Tuesday with Spencer Schwellenbach, followed by Chris Sale on Wednesday, and Spencer Strider on Thursday — a trio that represents the best of what Atlanta’s pitching staff has to offer right now.
Sale is Slotted for Wednesday
After being scratched from his scheduled Sunday start against the Rockies, the Braves confirmed that Sale will take the mound Wednesday against Paul Blackburn. He brings an unsteady 6.75 ERA into the matchup for the Mets.
The decision to hold Sale back a few days may have been calculated to give him a little extra rest and ensure he lines up against a divisional opponent.
Over his last nine starts, Sale has been nothing short of dominant. He boasts a sparkling 1.41 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. That’s elite production by any standard — and even more impressive when you consider where he started. His season ERA sat at 6.17 at the beginning of May. Now? It’s 2.79 — a mark that has him back in ace territory.
A Familiar NL East Foe
This will be Sale’s first start against the Mets in 2025. He did face them last season while still in a Braves uniform. In that outing, he tossed 7 1/3 innings, allowed just two hits and two earned runs, walked one, and struck out nine. It was vintage Sale — and perfectly in line with his resurgence over the last couple of months.
Interestingly, Sale was scheduled to pitch against the Mets again in Game 162 last season but was scratched due to back spasms. Now, he gets another shot at them, this time in the heart of a crucial midseason push.
Braves Have No Margin for Error
Despite Sale’s brilliance, the Braves haven’t been stacking wins behind him. They’re just 5-4 in his last nine starts, mainly due to a sputtering offense.
They’ve averaged four runs per game in those outings on paper — but that number’s deceptive. They were held to three runs or fewer in five of the nine. They’ve even lost three different games by a 2-1 score, wasting Sale’s dominance.
That’s a tough pill to swallow when your ace is putting up Cy Young-caliber numbers.
A Big Series and a Statement Opportunity
With the Mets coming to town and the Braves desperate to claw back into contention, this series matters more than most June matchups. It’s a chance to reset the tone against a division rival. And Chris Sale — pitching like the elite version of himself again — gives Atlanta the edge in Game 2.
But if the offense doesn’t come along for the ride, it could be another chapter in the frustrating trend of great pitching, not enough support.
Sale’s Wednesday start is more than just another outing. It’s an opportunity for Atlanta to put a stamp on a series, give their ace the run support he’s earned, and start swinging the momentum needle back in their favor. With the rotation lined up and Sale locked in, the Braves have every reason to aim high — but only if the bats finally show up, too.
