Braves reveal risky pitching strategy devised to try and save their 2024 season
The Atlanta Braves had a great plan heading into their series with the Mets and it was all going like clockwork to start. The Braves dominated the Mets in the first game of the series and they had Chris Sale and Max Fried set to throw the next two games. The odds were high that Atlanta would come out of that stretch with at least a series win and with their wild card hopes very much alive and well.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature threw the Braves a curveball which has required a number of adjustments and thought.
With Hurricane Helene rolling through the Atlanta area this week, the last two games of the series were postponed until Monday where the Braves and Mets will play a doubleheader if necessary on the eve of the NL Wild Card round. To say that having to play a doubleheader for your season right before the playoffs start isn't ideal is putting it mildly.
Given all the moving parts (how the Mets play, how the Diamondbacks play, how the Braves series against the Royals goes), figuring out exactly how to line up the Braves' most formidable starters to give the team their best chance was never going to be easy. However, it appears as though the Braves have arrived at a novel solution.
Sale will start whenever the Braves are facing elimination. Fried is going Friday because he's more of a creature of habit, who doesn't like too many extra days of rest. Reynaldo Lopez will be the wild card, who could be used at any point between Sat.-Mon.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 26, 2024
Chris Sale slated to start "whenever" the Braves face elimination in the coming days
Before this was revealed, Braves fans were understandably concerned about Sale when the Braves' probable starters for the next three days were announced as "Fried, TBA, TBA" especially given that Sale's velocity was down in his last start. Fortunately, it seems like those fears were unfounded.
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
This is kind of fascinating and both the Royals and Mets can't feel great about the specter of Sale starting looming at every turn. Generally, we are taught that starters love their routine which is exactly the reason why Fried will be starting on Friday. However, it sounds like the Braves feel good about using Sale out as needed and the uncertainty with when he and the soon-to-return Reynaldo Lopez could play to the Braves' advantage.
Of course, there is a chance that this could backfire spectacularly. If the Braves get too cute and end up losing a very winnable game because they didn't start Sale and instead went with Charlie Morton or the Grant Holmes experience, the stakes get even higher in that Monday doubleheader. One just hopes that the Braves have a great gameplan against the Royals regardless and can take some of the pressure off.
As to when Sale COULD start, that is much tougher to project. Saturday is possible if the Braves lose on Friday and both the Mets and Diamondbacks win, but Sunday or Monday "feel" like more likely spots to see Sale on the mound. This is quite the gambit the Braves are laying down to end the season, but it might be just crazy enough to work.
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