MORE BAD NEWS: Braves Hit With Another Terrible Injury

The Braves have battled through numerous injuries to reach the postseason, but the uncertainty surrounding Chris Sale could prove to be their toughest challenge yet.

When the 2024 MLB season began, the Atlanta Braves were expected to boast one of the league’s top offenses, powered by reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and supported by stars like Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna, Michael Harris II, and Sean Murphy. With such a stacked lineup, it seemed impossible for the Braves not to be led by their hitters.

But baseball is unpredictable. Acuña tore his ACL in May, ending his season. Murphy injured his oblique on Opening Day, missed two months, and hasn’t been the same since. Riley struggled early, hit his stride, then broke his wrist and is now out for the year. Harris, after a slow start, missed two months with a hamstring injury and is only now returning to form. Albies had an inconsistent season, then broke his wrist and returned batting solely right-handed. Olson has stayed healthy but endured a long slump before recovering his All-Star form in the last two months.

Amid these setbacks, the Braves’ offense has fallen far short of expectations. The real strength of the team in 2024 has been its pitching, anchored by a dominant Chris Sale, who is the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young.

Acquired in December for infielder Vaughn Grissom, Sale arrived with high potential but doubts due to his injury history. However, Sale has proven his critics wrong, posting a stellar 2.38 ERA over 173 innings with 225 strikeouts and just 39 walks. His consistency has been remarkable, allowing more than three runs in only two starts this season. The Braves are 22-7 in games he’s started, making him a key factor in their success.

Sale has been even more critical after Spencer Strider, another ace, was sidelined for Tommy John surgery in April. Sale’s excellence has been vital in keeping the Braves in playoff contention, even as their once formidable offense faltered. Unfortunately, back spasms prevented Sale from pitching in the Braves’ final 12 games, and his availability for the Wild Card series against the Padres is uncertain, presenting yet another challenge for the Braves.

 

 

Beyond Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, a 2021 second-round pick, stepped up when Strider was injured, stabilizing the rotation with a 3.35 ERA in 123.2 innings, including a standout performance in the first game of a key doubleheader against the Mets. Reynaldo Lopez, originally signed as a reliever, exceeded all expectations as a starter, posting a 1.99 ERA across 29 appearances.

In the bullpen, Raisel Iglesias and Joe Jimenez have been outstanding, giving the Braves one of the league’s best late-game duos. Iglesias has been nearly unhittable, posting a 1.95 ERA with 34 saves, while Jimenez has a 2.62 ERA and 2.34 FIP in 68.2 innings.

The Braves’ success this season has hinged on their pitching, not their offense. Thanks to Sale, Schwellenbach, and others, Atlanta has led the league in pitching WAR (23.5) and posted one of the lowest team ERAs (3.49). Without their elite arms, the 2024 Braves would have been out of playoff contention long ago.