Chris Sale’s next start for Braves remains TBD

ATLANTA — When Chris Sale will pitch stands as one of the top questions surrounding the Braves as they attempt to reach the postseason by successfully navigating a busy four-game stretch to end the regular season.

All the Braves have said is that Sale will pitch if they reach a point where they are facing potential elimination. They improved their playoff bid Friday night as Max Fried dominated over 8 2/3 innings in a 3-0 win over the Royals at Truist Park.

Fried’s masterpiece supported the Braves’ belief that it was best to start him on Friday. Because he is more of a creature of habit, Atlanta kept Fried on schedule when extra days of rest were created by inclement weather postponing the games scheduled against the Mets on Wednesday and Thursday.

“[Fried] is OK with six [days between starts], but it’s a hard sell with seven, which it would have been [had he not started until Saturday],” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Chris, it doesn’t matter to him.”

That’s why the Braves are going to push Sale back at least one more day. Reynaldo López will come off the injured list to start Saturday’s game against the Royals (7:20 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV). López hasn’t pitched since right shoulder inflammation limited him to one inning on Sept. 10 at Nationals Park. But a side session this week gave the All-Star hurler and the Braves a sense he might be able to complete five innings.

Sale leads the NL in wins (18), ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225). He was ready to start Wednesday against the Mets before MLB postponed the final two games of that series and scheduled Monday’s doubleheader. The top candidate for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award threw a side session that day.

Still, there are some who are skeptical about Sale’s health. His four-seam fastball, which averages 94.8 mph, dipped below 90 mph during the final two frames of his five-inning outing in Cincinnati on Sept. 19. He hasn’t pitched in the eight days that followed.

Could this long layoff have an adverse effect? Not necessarily. Sale went 10 days between starts coming out of the All-Star break. And rust wasn’t an issue as he tallied nine strikeouts and allowed just two runs over 7 1/3 innings on July 25.

Sale could start Sunday’s series finale against the Royals. Or the Braves might wait to use him during Monday’s doubleheader. Though the odds are slim, there’s even a chance he might not be needed before Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

The Braves (87-71) are battling the Mets (87-71) and D-backs (88-72) for the final two NL Wild Card spots. Sale will remain on alert they next couple of days, waiting to learn when he’s needed.

Spencer Schwellenbach is also available to start on Sunday or Monday, if necessary. Charlie Morton stands as Atlanta’s other starting option, as the baseball world waits to see when Sale might pitch again.