LOS ANGELES -- “Will Chris Sale start Game 2 of the National League Division Series?” has been a popular question ever since the veteran hurler recorded the final four outs of Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series with just one day of rest.
“When we came in [Thursday night], the first words out of his mouth were, ‘I feel amazing,’" Braves manager Walt Weiss said Saturday morning. “If he were to come in tomorrow morning and say, ‘I feel amazing,’ there's a chance he pitches tomorrow.”
Knowing there’s a strong chance Sale will arrive at Dodger Stadium on Sunday morning saying he’s feeling good, the Braves may also base their decision on where they stand in this best-of-five NLDS against the Dodgers.
If the Braves win Game 1 on Saturday, the team could more comfortably push Sale back to start Game 3 on Tuesday. But if they lose the opening game in this series, they may choose to go with the 37-year-old in Sunday’s Game 2.
“The deciding factor is always going to be how Chris is feeling,” Weiss said. “Now, to me it's not that big a deal when he pitches. He's going to pitch in this series. The Dodgers can't win it in two. So he's going to pitch. It really doesn't matter when.”
Sale threw 95 pitches in the Braves’ Game 1 win over the Phillies on Tuesday. He then threw 21 pitches while completing 1 1/3 innings of relief in Thursday’s Game 3 victory.
Asked after the game if the relief appearance would prevent him from starting Game 2 of the NLDS, Sale said, “If I had to pitch tomorrow, I’d be ready.”
Sale’s passion and determination make him a beloved figure among teammates and fans. But he made just two starts this season on regular rest, with the most recent coming on April 6. So, even before Thursday’s relief appearance, there was reason to question if he would start Game 2 on what would have been regular rest.
If the Braves were to push Sale back to Game 3, Weiss said his ace could still be used at some point in Game 5, if necessary.
Sale, Tyler Mahle, JR Ritchie and Grant Holmes are the traditional starters who are on the Braves’ NLDS roster. Mahle won’t be available until Game 3. Holmes pitched two innings of relief on Thursday. So, he could be another possibility to start Game 2. Ritchie likely wouldn’t make a start unless absolutely necessary.