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The Atlanta Braves are opting for a bullpen game in Game 2 of their NLDS against the Dodgers on Sunday, instead of deploying ace pitcher Chris Sale. This decision follows Sale's recent heavy workload and could impact his readiness for later games. The move leaves the Braves' relief pitching, which has already seen significant use during the wild-card round, vulnerable to the Dodgers' strong lineup adept at adjusting to bullpen arms in postseason play.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Atlanta Braves decided not to use Chris Sale in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Sunday. Instead, left-hander Ray Kerr was listed as the opener after Saturday's loss. This move comes following a controversial decision during the wild-card series where Sale pitched 95 pitches in Game 1 and then came out of the bullpen for 4 outs two days later despite having a comfortable four-run lead. The Braves had initially considered reusing Sale within six days but ultimately chose to rest him, hoping he will be ready for a critical start in Game 3 on Tuesday. This decision may provide an advantage to the Dodgers as they look to advance in the series.
Written for “Dodgers Nlds Advantage” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
If the Atlanta Braves are to come back against the Dodgers in this week’s National League Division Series, they will almost certainly need a dominant start from staff ace Chris Sale.
asserted
they → come → Sale
It won’t be coming in Game 2 on Sunday.
asserted
It → come → Sunday
Instead, the Braves announced that they would be rolling with a second-straight bullpen game for the second game of the best-of-five series, listing left-hander Ray Kerr as their opener coming off a 5-3 loss at Dodger Stadium in Saturday afternoon’s opener.
asserted
they → announce → opener
Sale threw 95 pitches in a 6 ⅓ inning start in Game 1 of the wild-card series last Tuesday, then –– in what has become a controversial move since –– came out of the bullpen two days later for the final four outs of a winner-take-all Game 3, throwing 21 more pitches even though the Braves had a somewhat comfortable four-run lead.
asserted
Braves → throw → lead
Entering the NLDS, the Braves had at least left the door open to Sale turning around and pitching again on Sunday –– in what would have marked a third appearance within a six-day span for the 37-year-old former Cy Young Award winner.
asserted
what → enter → winner
In the end, however, they elected to give him a couple extra days of rest ahead of Game 3 on Tuesday, hoping their bullpen can keep them from falling into a two-games-to-none deficit before they get there.
asserted
they → elect → deficit
“The deciding factor is always going to be how Chris is feeling,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said before Game 1.
asserted
Weiss → decide → Game
“To me, it’s not that big a deal when he pitches.
asserted
he → ’ → me
He’s going to pitch in this series.
asserted
He → go → series
Dodgers can’t win it in two.
asserted
Dodgers → win → two
So he’s going to pitch.
asserted
he → go → ?
It really doesn’t matter when.”
asserted
It → matter → ?
While that might be true, delaying Sale until Game 3 does come with a potentially severe cost –– and not only because he pitched a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers the last time he faced the Dodgers back in August.
uncertain
he → delay → August
If he started Game 2, he could have been ready for a potential Game 5 start on a normal four days of rest.
uncertain
he → start → rest
Now, he will get just two days off if the Braves can force the series to go the distance, likely leaving him available for only a couple innings out of the bullpen if they get there.
asserted
they → get → bullpen
In the meantime, the Braves will be asking a lot out of their relief corps, as well, after its own heavy workload to begin the postseason.
asserted
Braves → ask → postseason
Kerr, their Game 2 starter, threw 47 pitches in a 3 ⅓ inning outing at the start of Thursday’s Game 3 against the Phillies.
asserted
Kerr → throw → Phillies
Their highest-leverage arms –– including closer Raisel Iglesias, left-hander Dylan Lee, and hard-throwing set-up men Robert Suarez and Didier Fuentes –– might also be called into action at least 2-3 times each over the rest of this series, after all pitching big innings of their own in the wild-card round.
uncertain
arms → include → round
That should work to the Dodgers’ benefit.
asserted
That → work → benefit
Their veteran lineup has made a habit of adjusting to opposing relievers the more they’ve seen them in recent postseasons (just ask Jeff Hoffman).
asserted
they → make → Hoffman
They also already held the pitching advantage in this series thanks to their star-studded rotation; which will have Blake Snell going in Sunday’s Game 2, Yoshinobu Yamamoto facing off with Sale in Game 3, and Tyler Glasnow lined up after that for Game 4.
asserted
Glasnow → hold → Game
If there were to be a Game 5, the Dodgers could start Tarik Skubal (who spun six dominant innings in Game 1) and bring Snell and Yamamoto out of the bullpen behind him.
uncertain
who → be → him
All those factors made it tempting for the Braves to starting Sale as soon as possible.
asserted
Braves → make → Sale
Alas, they are rolling the dice on their bullpen –– both on Sunday, and the rest of the series –– and hoping to get the best version of their ace when the series returns to Atlanta.
asserted
series → roll → Atlanta
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