The inclement weather that is currently hitting Atlanta really threw a wrench into the Braves’ plans as far as their pitching is concerned. With five games remaining in the season, Truist Park will play host to the Royals for a three-game set this weekend, followed by a doubleheader with the Mets on Monday if needed.
That means the Braves could potentially need five different starters in four days, not ideal when a potential Wild Card Series is set to begin on Tuesday, which means it is decision time for Brian Snitker and company.
The obvious choice for Friday’s game seemed to be Chris Sale. He’s set to win his first Cy Young award and leads Major League Baseball in most pitching categories. At this point, every game is a must-win, and by starting him on Friday, it would make him available for Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. Moving him back at all, and it’s possible he doesn’t pitch in the Wild Card round.
However, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, that’s what the Braves have decided to do. Max Fried will start for Atlanta tomorrow, while the rest has yet to be determined. Brian Snitker is playing it by ear, but he did say that Chris Sale will pitch when the Braves are facing elimination.
Braves are going Fried (Fri.), TBA, TBA for this weekend's series against KC . Snitker said Sale is fine when asked the past two days. The question is why push Sale back to Sat. or Sun. when knowing this means the WC series could end without him making a start. Waiting to hear.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 26, 2024
Braves are literally going day-to-day based on their results and those of both the D-backs and Mets. So, we won't know Saturday's starter until Friday's games are complete. Tough situation. But with Fried, Sale, Lopez, Schwellenbach and Morton the Braves have good options. https://t.co/8PAIoSg0hb
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 26, 2024
With the way the schedule lines up — potentially eight games in seven days — it’s a bit of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for Brian Snitker. It’s an extremely difficult situation to navigate, but that’s why he gets paid the big bucks, and there are a few reasons why this is a head-scratcher.
For starters, not using Chris Sale immediately pretty much takes him out of consideration for the Wild Card series, meaning there’s a possibility both Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach are not available if it comes down to the final game of the regular season. It’s hard to imagine the Braves winning a three-game playoff series on the road with their two best horses watching from the dugout.
On top of that, there’s this thing called momentum. The Braves have had an extraordinarily tough time building any momentum this season, but they finally have some. They’ve won five of six, including a pivotal matchup with the Mets on Tuesday. If the Braves are going to make it through this next week of play alive, they need all of the positive energy they can get, and another lights-out performance from Sale on Friday would have this group feeling really confident moving forward.
I also don’t love the idea of having all of these arms waiting in limbo, wondering when it might be their time to toe the rubber. Pitchers are creatures of habit, particularly starting pitchers. They have their routine, which they live and die by, and sometimes even extra rest can have a negative impact.
However, the top problem I have with this entire situation goes back to Chris Sale. The 35-year-old has been the best pitcher in the game this season. He’s the #1 reason the Braves even have a chance at the postseason. Not only is he on track to pitch in just once over a 10-game stretch — a stretch that’s included several off-days — but he’s also on track to miss the Wild Card series if the Braves clinch a playoff berth. How the hell is that possible? The only answer is porous management, plain and simple.
