The Atlanta Braves are playing it cool, sticking to their strategy of giving extra rest to their starters, even though their playoff hopes are hanging in the balance. With the season’s final week underway, the Braves face a pivotal home series against the New York Mets, and despite the high stakes, they’re staying the course.
The Braves announced that Chris Sale, their ace and Cy Young front-runner, will start Wednesday’s game, the middle one in the Mets series. It’s a choice that raises eyebrows for anyone hoping to see Sale pitch twice this week—once on Tuesday and potentially again on Sunday.
Given that the Braves are two games out of the playoff picture, a double dose of Sale would seem like the obvious call. If he pitched Tuesday, Sale would be on regular rest to retake the mound in the season finale, a move that could make all the difference in their playoff pursuit.
Instead, Sale is getting some extra downtime before his Wednesday start, a strategy the Braves have used all season to keep their pitching staff fresh. Sale, at 35 years old, has logged more innings in 2024 than the previous four seasons combined, so the Braves are understandably cautious.
His velocity was down in his last outing, and the team clearly wants to keep him fresh. But with so much on the line, could this be a mistake? Manager Brian Snitker stands by his decision. In his eyes, the plan gives the Braves the best chance to succeed.
They trust their depth, including rookie phenom Spencer Schwellenbach, who will start on Tuesday. Schwellenbach’s in line to pitch Sunday, too, meaning the pressure is on the rookie to deliver not one but two clutch performances to help the Braves secure a postseason berth.
Max Fried will take the mound to pitch for the series finale on Thursday, another vital game in this do-or-die week. But the real focus remains on Sale’s Wednesday outing and the hope that Schwellenbach can rise to the occasion in what could be a career-defining week for him. The decision to rest Sale has its upside if the Braves make it to the wild card series. Sale will be fresh and ready to start Game 1. But that’s a big “if.” First, Atlanta has to win.
If they win the first two games against the Mets, they control their own destiny. But even one loss could crush their playoff chances. Snitker isn’t thinking that far ahead, though. His focus is squarely on Tuesday’s game, stressing the importance of taking things one step at a time. Braves fans could second-guess that decision to hold Sale for Wednesday and potentially only give him one start during this crucial week if things don’t go Atlanta’s way.
Schwellenbach is undoubtedly talented, but is he ready for the pressure cooker of two critical starts in the season’s final week? That remains to be seen. If the Braves fall short, it might not just be the rookie under scrutiny. It could be the veteran manager who made the call.
The clock is ticking. The Braves need wins, and they need them fast. The road is clear: They must beat the Mets. Then, they must win out against Kansas City and hope their strategy of resting Sale pays off. Whether that gamble works or not, we’ll find out soon enough.
