Ray Kerr will be taking the mound as the opener for the Atlanta Braves tonight in Game 2 of the NLDS, a move that officially takes ace Chris Sale out of the picture. This decision comes after days of speculation following Sale’s unexpected bullpen appearance in the Wild Card series, a move that secured their win but put his Game 2 status squarely in doubt.
The High-Stakes Bet That Led Us Here
The Braves were absolutely rolling with Chris Sale throughout the season, and he continued that dominance against the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card series. But then came Game 3, when manager Walt Weiss pulled the trigger, bringing the southpaw out of the ‘pen to close it out. It worked, sure, the Braves snagged the series win. But everyone knew it was a massive gamble with serious ramifications for the NLDS. ESPN’s Alden Gonzales called it out, reporting that Sale starting Game 2 after throwing two innings out of the bullpen was “still on the table,” but “unlikely” depending on how he felt. Braves writer Mark Bowman echoed that sentiment this morning, admitting he’d be “surprised if Chris Sale starts tonight.” You just don’t throw your ace in a Game 3 bullpen spot and expect him to be fresh for a Game 2 NLDS start a few days later. It’s a brutal reality check, even for a competitor like Sale who clearly wouldn’t be as effective on short rest.
Bullpen Chaos: Game 2 Edition
Bowman’s predictions proved spot on: Ray Kerr gets the nod as the opener. This means Sale is officially unavailable for Game 2 of the NLDS. Remember, Kerr threw 47 pitches in that Wild Card Game 3 too, so Bowman initially questioned if he’d even be an option to start. The “good news,” if you can call it that, is that the Braves have every high-leverage reliever available, with Fuentes apparently capable of multiple innings. Still, the Braves are essentially forced into another bullpen game, after already having to make one work in Game 1 on Saturday. This is exactly what everyone feared: the decision to use Sale to close out the Wild Card series, even though that Game 3 was “seemingly out of reach,” could absolutely come back to haunt Atlanta tonight. Going with an opener and another bullpen effort in such a crucial game, especially against the Dodgers, is a massive challenge.
Tonight’s game is huge for the Braves. After what went down in Game 1 and now this pitching decision, they’ve got to find a way to make this bullpen strategy click. Every pitch matters from here on out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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