Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale didn't miss a beat in his first start in over two months on Saturday. Although the Braves lost 3-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies, Sale didn't factor into the decision in his return from a fractured rib cage. The 36-year-old southpaw limited the Phillies to one run on three hits while tallying nine strikeouts against one walk in six innings. Sale threw 78 pitches (51 strikes) and recorded his seventh straight quality start in his first outing since June 18. Last year's National League Cy Young winner now owns a 2.45 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and 123:27 K:BB in 95 1/3 innings this season. He's scheduled to make his next start on Sept. 6 against the Seattle Mariners.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) has officially been activated from the 60-day injured list and is expected to start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. The team optioned right-hander Nathan Wiles to Triple-A Gwinnett in the corresponding move. Sale has been out since mid-June with a fractured rib cage. Before getting injured, Sale was 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings (15 starts). The Braves are out of contention, so it remains to be seen how hard they will push the veteran left-hander down the stretch. Still, when Sale is on the mound, he's a fantasy ace who could swing leagues in the final month of the season.

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale (ribs) is in line to come off the 60-day injured list on Saturday to start against the Philadelphia Phillies, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Sale hasn't pitched since he suffered a fractured left rib cage on June 18, interrupting another brilliant season for the 36-year-old southpaw. Before going on the IL, the reigning National League Cy Young winner recorded a 2.52 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 114:26 K:BB over 15 starts and 89 1/3 innings. While Sale won't come back to help the out-of-contention Braves push for a championship, he could still be a major asset for fantasy managers down the stretch.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) appears to be on the verge of returning to the big-league mound. Sale tossed 4.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five strikeouts in his latest rehab start on Saturday. For now, the plan is for Sale to start for the Braves next weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sale has been out since the middle of June due to a fractured left ribcage. The veteran southpaw needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats with his return on the horizon.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A Columbus on Saturday. Sale threw four innings during his most recent rehab outing on Sunday. If everything goes well, Sale should be cleared to rejoin the Braves rotation after his start on Saturday. The southpaw has been sidelined since late June due to a fractured left rib cage. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Sale on their IR with his return looming. There should be another update on his status following his rehab start this weekend.

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale (ribs) could come off the 60-day injured list and return to the majors next week, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Sale is scheduled to make his second Triple-A rehab start on Sunday, and unless he and the Braves decide he'll need a third tune-up in the minors, he'll rejoin the Braves' rotation. The reigning NL Cy Young winner suffered a fractured rib cage in a start against the New York Mets on June 18 and has missed about three months as a result. Sale was brilliant in that game, a 5-0 victory, as he fired 8 2/3 scoreless innings of five-hit ball with seven strikeouts against one walk. That was just one of several tremendous starts Sale turned in before going on the IL. The 36-year-old owns a 2.52 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 114:26 K:BB across 89 1/3 innings this season. While the Braves are out of contention, Sale's return could be huge for fantasy managers.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) pitched two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday. He gave up three hits, one run, with a pair of strikeouts, getting up to 40 pitches. Sale averaged 93.9 mph with his fastball, which was down from his 95 mph season average. The southpaw is likely to make two more rehab starts before joining Atlanta's rotation. Sale was following up his monster 2025 season this year until he went down with a fractured left rib in June. He was (5-4) with a K/9 of 11.49, which was his highest since 2019. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Sale as he's expected to be reinstated from the IL soon.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) will make his first minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett, according to Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Sale came out of his 30-pitch simulated game on Thursday feeling good and has been cleared to take the next step in his rehab from a rib injury that has sidelined him since the middle of June. The 36-year-old former Cy Young winner is expected to require two rehab starts, but after that, Sale should rejoin the Braves' starting rotation for the stretch run. Even though the Braves are in the midst of a lost season, Sale is as competitive as they come and could make a difference for fantasy managers over his last handful of starts. In six starts before landing on the injured list, Sale was especially stingy with a 0.86 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 41 2/3 innings.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) are expected to send Sale on a minor-league rehab assignment next week as long as he feels good on Friday after his side session on Thursday, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien. Sale could need as few as two rehab starts before he's activated from the 60-day injured list for the final five to six weeks of the season. The 36-year-old veteran southpaw resumed throwing in mid-July, four weeks after he fractured two ribs while trying to make a defensive play on June 18. The Braves are in the midst of a disappointing lost season, so Atlanta isn't rushing Sale back, but he should be able to provide fantasy managers with a handful of starts to close out the season. The 2024 National League Cy Young winner should remain rostered in all fantasy formats with his return getting closer.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) threw a successful 30-pitch simulated game on Thursday and didn't have any issues, and if he feels good on Friday, the next step will be a minor-league rehab assignment, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic. Barring a setback once Sale begins throwing in minor-league games, the 36-year-old veteran southpaw should be ready to return from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 19. He is recovering from a fractured left rib cage that has kept him sidelined since the middle of June. Fantasy managers should be stashing Sale in an IL spot in all leagues in the meantime. Before getting hurt, the former first-rounder had gone 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA (2.69 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and 26 walks in 89 1/3 innings over his 15 starts in his 15th big-league season. Injuries continue to be an issue, but Sale has been strong when he's been available.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is set to throw a live batting practice session on Thursday. Sale continues to progress from a fractured left ribcage he suffered in mid-June. The expectation is that Sale will likely go on a minor league rehab assignment after Thursday's session. It's unclear how many starts he'll need before rejoining the Braves rotation. Sale is eligible to be activated from the injured list on August 19. The assumption is that he'll rejoin the Braves rotation around then. There should be more information on his status following his batting practice session.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) has been making progress towards a return to the mound, according to David O'Brien. He recently threw a bullpen session and is expected to face live hitters soon. After that, Sale could go on a minor league rehab assignment for a few starts. Sale is still two weeks away from being eligible to return from the 60-day injured list. The southpaw has been sidelined since mid-June due to a fractured left ribcage. It's unlikely that Sale will be able to return when first eligible because he'll need a rehab assignment. The hope is that Sale is able to return at some point in September, but fantasy managers probably won't get much out of him.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) played catch on Tuesday. Sale isn't eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until after Aug. 19, but he's at least making progress toward an eventual return to the team's starting rotation later this season. Tuesday was the first time that last year's National League Cy Young winner has thrown a baseball since he was diagnosed with a fractured left rib cage almost a month ago. The 36-year-old veteran southpaw should pitch for the Braves again this year, but by the time he returns, there won't be much time left for him to make an impact for his fantasy managers. Still, he's worth stashing in all formats for his high-end upside when healthy. In 15 starts before his injury, Sale had gone 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and 26 walks in 89 1/3 innings pitched.

The Atlanta Braves have not discussed left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) in trade talks and will not consider moving him or any other player under control beyond the 2025 season at this year's trade deadline, major-league-sources told FanSided's Robert Murray. Although Sale is currently on the 60-day injured list with a rib-cage fracture, he's been excellent for the Braves when he's been healthy since they acquired the veteran southpaw from the Boston Red Sox. The 36-year-old lefty had a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 2024 to win the National League Cy Young award. This year, he's been nearly as good, posting a 2.52 ERA with 114 punchouts in his 15 starts. The Braves expect Sale to return later this year, but since he's now on the 60-day IL, he cannot return until at least Aug. 20. Fantasy managers must remain patient and keep him stashed until then.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) has been transferred to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. This is a procedural move in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Hunter Stratton. Sale was placed on the injured list in late June due to a ribcage fracture. The organization is hopeful Sale is able to pitch again this season, but this move holds Sale out until August 20. For now, Didier Fuentes will stick in the rotation, but that could change. The hope is that fantasy managers will still be able to get something out of Sale before the season is over.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is expected to pitch again this season, according to manager Brian Snitker. Sale was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday after suffering a ribcage fracture on Wednesday. There is no timetable for Sale's return as the team wants to wait and see how the injury heals. This is a tough spot for fantasy managers given the uncertainty of his return. Sale figures to miss more than the 15-day minimum. Fantasy managers should go ahead and hold Sale on their IL until the team offers more information.

The Atlanta Braves have placed ace Chris Sale (rib cage) on the 15-day injured list with a fractured left rib cage, retroactive to June 19, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game reports. Atlanta recalled left-hander Austin Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Sale's roster spot. Sale suffered the injury in the ninth inning on a diving play against the New York Mets on Wednesday. The reigning National League Cy Young was dominant over 8 2/3 scoreless innings that night. It was the latest excellent outing in a season full of them for Sale, who has once again been among the premier starters in the sport. Across 89 1/3 innings, the 36-year-old lefty has pitched to a 2.52 ERA with 114 strikeouts against 26 walks. There's no replacing that type of production. Sale will now miss at least two weeks, which is a major blow for both the Braves and fantasy managers.

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale (5-4) delivered a spectacular performance against the New York Mets on Wednesday to rack up his fifth win of the season. The reigning National League Cy Young winner fell just one out short of a complete-game shutout, firing 8 2/3 scoreless, five-hit innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. The 36-year-old lefty exited a 116-pitch outing after allowing an infield single to Brandon Nimmo. Sale has now tallied six straight quality starts, and he hasn't given up more than two earned runs in a game since April 13. Overall, Sale has pitched to a stellar 2.52 ERA with 114 strikeouts and 26 walks in 89 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to get the ball Monday in a rematch against the Mets.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale will make his next start this Wednesday in New York against the division-rival New York Mets, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien. It opens up Sale to be able to start again against the Mets next week. Sale was originally scheduled to make his second start of last week in Sunday's series finale in an excellent matchup against the Colorado Rockies, but instead he's been pushed to Wednesday. The 36-year-old reigning National League Cy Young will get a much tougher matchup against the Mets in his next two starts, but Sale remains a must-start in fantasy leagues after racking up a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings last Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Sale hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in an outing since April 13 against the Tampa Bay Rays and now holds a 2.79 ERA with 107 K's and 25 walks in 80 2/3 innings in 2025.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale won't make his scheduled start against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Instead, Sale is expected to start in one of the games during the upcoming series against the New York Mets. It doesn't sound like Sale is dealing with an injury. This looks like the Braves saving Sale for a tougher divisional matchup and letting someone else pitch against the worst team in baseball. The Braves will go with right-hander Grant Holmes for Sunday's contest with the Rockies. Fantasy managers who have these pitchers rostered should adjust their lineups accordingly.