The Braves‘ season ended in a similar manner as it has the last two years — disappointing. However, in that same breath, it was completely different in 2024.
The club had no real chance this October, not without Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, and Spencer Strider. That wasn’t the case in either of the prior two postseasons. Still, they were all similar because, once again, right before the playoffs, the Braves dealt with starting pitching injuries.
In 2022, Spencer Strider was coming off the IL with an oblique injury, and Max Fried was hampered by a severe illness. In 2023, Fried had a blister, and Charlie Morton injured his finger. This season, Chris Sale had back spasms.
The soon-to-be Cy Young winner was the best pitcher in baseball, and right before the Braves needed him most, Sale went down with an injury. Atlanta was without their ace for the Wild Card round, but fortunately, it’s not something that should linger into 2025. Had the Braves upset the Padres, Sale would’ve been on the NLDS roster.
Chris Sale would've been on the NLDS roster had the #Braves advanced. Sale threw today at Truist Park to make sure he was over the back spasms.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) October 4, 2024
It was always a long shot for the Braves to win a three-game set in San Diego, especially without Spencer Schwellenbach and Chris Sale available. It was the season from hell, and of course, it ended the way it did. It was fitting.
The Braves will look toward the 2025 season, and Sale’s health will be a topic of conversation, but he will enter the offseason as he did last year — healthy. That’s the most important thing. For the first time in years, Chris Sale came into Spring Training healthy last year, and all he did was turn in a Cy Young campaign.
Expectations are high for the grizzled veteran.
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Photographer: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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