Braves Lose Chris Sale to Rib Fracture

The Atlanta Braves have placed 36-year-old ace and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on the 15-day injured list after he fractured his left rib cage during a diving play in the ninth inning of a scoreless start against the Mets. Sale has been a standout with a 5-4 record, 2.52 ERA, and 114 strikeouts in over 89 innings this season. The Braves, now 34-40 and 11 games behind in the NL East, are facing mounting rotation injuries, with AJ Smith-Shawver and Reynaldo López already sidelined for extended periods. Austin Cox has been recalled from Triple-A to fill Sale’s roster spot. There is no timeline for Sale’s return, but rib fractures often require significant recovery, particularly for older pitchers. Sale's absence is a major setback for Atlanta’s postseason hopes.