Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale credited former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora with helping shape the all-hands-on-deck mentality driving him through Atlanta’s latest postseason run.
Sale said the standard he learned during the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series championship run still resonates as the Braves battle through October. Cora also sent Sale a congratulatory text after the left-hander recorded the final four outs of Atlanta’s Wild Card Series-clinching win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale took to X, formerly Twitter, Monday to highlight Sale’s praise for his former manager and the message Cora sent after the Braves punched their ticket to the NLDS.
Atlanta ace Chris Sale gives high praise to former Red Sox manager Alex Cora, saying he has meant a lot to his all-hands-on-deck mentality, valuing his leadership skills that led to their 2018 World Series title.
Cora stayed in touch with Sale during the season, and sent a…— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 5, 2026
Sale’s relief appearance came two days after he threw 95 pitches across 6 1/3 innings in the Wild Card opener. Working on one day of rest, he returned for 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts as the Braves eliminated the Phillies 6-2.
The 37-year-old went 14-9 with a 2.16 ERA and 200 strikeouts over 162 2/3 regular-season innings. Sale volunteered to pitch on short rest again during the NLDS, but Atlanta opted to preserve its ace for Game 3.
Article Continues BelowSale had started on four days’ rest only twice during the regular season, while Nightengale reported he posted a 2.13 ERA when working on six days’ rest during the season.
The Braves evened their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1-1 Sunday behind a bullpen game. The southpaw is scheduled to face Yoshinobu Yamamoto Tuesday at Truist Park.
That matchup follows their August 27 duel in Atlanta, when Sale struck out 11 while shutting out Los Angeles 1-0 opposite Yamamoto.
Manager Walt Weiss has said the veteran pitcher could affect a possible Game 5 the way he did against Philadelphia.
Sale’s connection to Cora also carries a postseason parallel. He closed Game 5 of the 2018 World Series against the Dodgers, and Atlanta has already shown a willingness to use him in relief when needed.