Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale is set to take the mound for the team’s spring training opener against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, per David O’Brien of The Athletic.
Sale, 35, made a spectacular impact in his first season with Atlanta in 2024, leading the league with 225 strikeouts and a dominant 2.38 ERA. The left-handed veteran posted an 18-3 record across 29 starts, a performance that earned him National League Cy Young honors.
Just a few years ago, Sale’s career appeared to be fading due to persistent injuries. From 2020-2023, he managed only 31 starts while struggling to stay on the field. However, his move to Atlanta provided a much-needed resurgence, transforming him back into one of baseball’s elite pitchers. Once seemingly on the brink of retirement during his final years in Boston, Sale has now reestablished himself as a dominant force.
With former Braves ace Max Fried departing for the Yankees in free agency and Spencer Strider still recovering from injury, Sale steps into the role as Atlanta’s rotation leader. The Braves are counting on him to anchor their pitching staff as they gear up for another postseason push.
Last year, the Braves fell short in the National League East, watching the Philadelphia Phillies claim the division crown with a 95-67 record. Atlanta and the Mets finished tied for second at 89-73, but this season, the Braves are determined to reclaim the top spot—and, more importantly, chase a World Series title.
The good news? Reinforcements are on the way. Strider is expected to return to the rotation, and Ronald Acuña Jr.—one of the most electrifying offensive players in baseball—is also on track for a healthy comeback. If injuries don’t derail their plans, the Braves could be primed for a serious championship run in 2025.
