The Atlanta Braves saw their series win-streak snapped last weekend as they dropped 2 of three games to the Miami Marlins, but that was not the most disheartening news from the weekend. Early Saturday, the Braves placed 2024 Cy Young award winner Chris Sale on the IL with fractured rib(s). The injury happened Wednesday night vs the Mets, as Sale was attempting to pitch a complete game. A ball was hit in between Sale and 1st base, and Sale dove to stop the ball, then threw to first for the out, a spectacular play.
Sale even stayed in the game for another hitter, and was ultimately pulled after allowing a baserunner in the ninth, having thrown 116 pitches. The 15-day IL stint was backdated to Wednesday, but ultimately that may not matter. Sale has at least one, maybe multiple fractured ribs, and he will not even be able to start a throwing regimen until it or they are completely healed. It appears that Didier Fuentes will remain with the big club, and be inserted in to the rotation, and the Braves have to hope that he continues to pitch well in Sale’s absence. But if history has taught us anything, especially since the Braves are already having to start Bryce Elder every five days, is that you can never have too much front-line starting pitching. With the trade deadline only weeks away, it is time (although he probably has been already) for Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos to pick up the phone and start looking for some players to bring in to help this rotation and bullpen. Andy Bunker and Abe Gordon expand on the Braves being buyers before the deadline.