The Atlanta Braves finally exercised their demons with a 6-2 win over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card. After celebrating their big win, the Braves will fly to Los Angeles as they prepare to take on the Dodgers.
It was a great night for the city of Atlanta, as the offense absolutely exploded against Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and the Philly bullpen. Ray Kerr played the part of the unexpected hero with 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball as the opener. His great start, along with Michael Harris II's early home run, set the tone early. The Phillies scattered two runs during the game (one off Grant Holmes and one off Dylan Dodd).
After Dodd allowed the second Philly run in the top of the eighth, Walt Weiss sent Truist Park into a frenzy when he brought Chris Sale out of the bullpen. The crowd was electric all night, but they ramped it up even more in that moment. Sale made Bryce Harper look absolutely foolish with three sliders that weren't even close to the zone for the final out of the eighth. Atlanta's lefty ace remained in the game for the ninth, and he sealed the deal for the Braves.
Chris Sale is the Braves' most important player this offseason and it isn't close
According to Sarah Langs, Sale is the first pitcher to start Game 1 of a playoff series and finish the team's clinching game since he did the same thing for the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series. This feat also made him the oldest pitcher to do so in postseason history. It just goes to show how imperative it was for the Braves to win this game. Sale absolutely earned the opportunity to close out the series despite throwing almost 100 pitches in Game 1.
Weiss stated in his postgame comments that he never planned to ask Sale to come into the game. However, Sale initiated a conversation prior to game time, stating he felt really good and was available if needed. This prompted the team to craft a roadmap for their ace.
Walt Weiss said he wasn't going to ask Chris Sale to pitch in Game 3, and that Sale needed to initiate that.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) October 2, 2026
As Weiss stepped into his office today, Sale was in a seat across from his desk.
"He said, 'I feel unbelievable. I'm ready to go.'" pic.twitter.com/nrhnRNiSqH
It just goes to show how much of a leader Sale is. He's willing to help the team in any situation. His tenacity is an X-factor for the Braves, and they'll need him to continue to be at his best if they want to go far.
Sale's incredible performance also put him in the same league as his idol, Randy Johnson. He is the first MLB pitcher to have 9+ strikeouts in a start and 3+ strikeouts in relief within the next two days. Johnson accomplished this in the 1995 ALDS against the Yankees. Furthermore, Sale is the 4th-oldest pitcher in postseason history to appear on 0 to 1 day's rest after throwing 6+ innings. He just continues to defy Father Time at every single turn.
Fans surely appreciate this moment, but it isn't lost on his teammates how cool it was. Austin Riley stated after the game, "I've seen a lot of cool stuff in my baseball career, but when Chris Sale ran out of the bullpen, that's one of the cooler moments I've been a part of. To hear the crowd, be in that moment, that was special."
This outing by Sale will be something fans remember for a VERY long time.
Add us as a preferred source on Google