The Atlanta Braves have suffered a major setback in the form of Christopher Allen Sale‘s recent injury. The Braves are scheduled to face the San Diego Padres in their upcoming Wild Card Series fixtures. However, from the looks of things, it seems that Brian Snitker’s men will have to enter the contest without their preferred pitcher. But what injury has Sale sustained that could prevent his participation in his side’s forthcoming match?
Here are all the available details regarding Sale’s latest ailment, including his estimated return.
How did Christopher Allen Sale get injured playing baseball?
The 35-year-old MLB veteran hurt his back during his side’s recent win against the Cincinnati Reds.
The unfortunate incident occurred in the second inning of the start in Cincinnati when Sale expressed concerns regarding his back. As a direct consequence, his four-seam fastball fell below 90 mph in the clash’s final two innings. The Braves remained hopeful of his subsequent return but to no avail.
Before his unforeseen injury, Sale was enjoying a renaissance season, occupying the top Majors position in both ERA and wins. The seasoned pitcher was coming off the back of an injury-ridden patch, with fitness issues restricting him to just 151 innings over three terms.
When will Christopher Allen Sale return to play MLB?
The extent of Christopher Allen Sale’s injury remains unknown at the time of this writing. However, manager Brian Snitker has confirmed that the 2018 World Series champion will miss the upcoming match-up against San Diego due to fitness issues.
“We’re hoping, with some more rest, we can get him right and get to the next round,” Snitker revealed. “We were going to wait for an elimination game. But I don’t think he felt great last night when he [increased his effort level] while throwing.” (via ABC News)
Further medical tests assessing Christopher Allen Sale’s injury should provide a more precise update on the pitcher’s state.
