Braves’ Chris Sale reveals deeper inspiration that drove near-flawless shutout of Dodgers

Chris Sale may be 37 years of age and there was once a time where it looked as though he’d never become fully healthy again. But he’s still at the top of his game in 2026 for the Atlanta Braves, and that could not have been more apparent than on Thursday, when he put up an absolute clinic by throwing a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1-0 victory.

Sale accomplished a few records along the way as he struck out 11 and allowed just five hits while walking none, leading the Braves to a four-game sweep of the Dodgers heading into the weekend. One would think that Sale was simply eager to be at his best since he faced the reigning World Series champion at home, but he revealed after the game that there was a deeper inspiration that pushed him on Thursday.

The Braves ace admitted that the passing of 42-year-old family friend Ashley Foss, whose father has handled Sale’s finances over the past two decades, played a huge role in his domination of the Dodgers.

“She was a huge Braves fan. She watched all these games. It felt weird out there, because I felt like I had a little something else helping me tonight. There’s no question, that was her out there,” Sale said, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

It’s not always the easiest to come back to work while grieving the loss of a close friend. But Sale deserves credit for not just showing up, but for performing at his best in honor of a close friend’s life.

The Braves now have a 79-55 record, keeping the Philadelphia Phillies at bay for the NL East lead for the time being. Their goal will be to lock down a postseason spot, and go for the World Series title, with Sale and company looking to honor Foss in the best way possible on the diamond.

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