Rough start? Sure. Cause for panic? Not yet. Just in case, if you’re already writing off the Atlanta Braves’ $38 million ace, hold on—you’ve got it wrong. Yes, he had a shaky start to the season, and he’s yet to get out of this slump. However, the Braves have decided to hold onto their belief in him. His first three starts were against three of the best lineups—the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies. Naturally, he didn’t have a warm welcome this season. Not to mention, the expectations were relentless.
Chris Sale, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, had yet another rough outing against the Phillies. He gave up five earned runs and nine hits in 4⅔ innings. And that wasn’t even the real damage. The hardest blow came off the bat of Kyle Schwarber, who recorded a 462-foot homer. And guess what? Presently, it’s the longest one in the majors this season.
Chris Sale wasn’t very happy with this call.
HP Umpire Stu Scheurwater with the pump fake. pic.twitter.com/375RWI06VX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 9, 2025
Sale’s fastball ranged between 91-92 mph. Although that’s lower compared to his peak, it still displayed flashes of effectiveness. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s chilly weather definitely played a role in his grip and control on the mound. Right after Sale’s recent outing against the Phillies, he laid it all out—he’s not bogging down despite all the struggles. Sale made it clear after his post-game comments that he won’t be worrying over his velocity and overall game. And he specifically added that he doesn’t care whether his velocity and overall game are the primary concerns for the fans, as he knows very well what works for him.
The Braves aren’t pressing the alarm yet. They signed him for the moments when it matters the most. Just because of some early-season struggles, the Braves won’t forget what he brings to the table. They believe he will soon reach 95-96 mph when it matters the most.
For now, the Braves won’t be rethinking their rotation. They stand by their belief that it’s still early in the season and Chris Sale isn’t “done” just yet.
Braves to add $34M more in their pitching depth
For a team crumbling under the pressure of a breakthrough, the start to the season has been anything but easy for the Braves. Despite Spencer Schwellenbach performing remarkably well, their key piece—Sale—is still in a slump. In a parallel world, they would wait for their injured stars, Spencer Strider and Reynaldo López, to return to the lineup.
But, well, in the real world, the Braves had to do something about their lineup. And so, it has been announced that Bryce Elder will be stepping up to cover for López. On another happier note, Strider’s return isn’t far off. During the fifth inning of the Braves against the NL rival Phillies, they finally made a decisive move.
Additionally, on April 8, 2025, the Braves added pitcher Rafael Montero from the Houston Astros to their rotation. This announcement invited mixed reviews from the Braves Nation. This announcement received mixed reviews from Braves fans—many were bothered that it was made during Sean Murphy’s return—but at least they were excited about their victory against their rivals.
If anything, for the Braves, the pressure is only going to increase from here. It’s great to see that they’re adding depth to their rotation. We won’t have to wait too long to see how well it works out for them.
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