Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Awkward Response Says Plenty About Braves’ Chris Sale Decision

Ronald Acuña Jr.'s Awkward Response Says Plenty About Braves' Chris Sale Decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss isn't second-guessing his controversial decision to use Chris Sale out of the bullpen during the wild-card round, even though it prevented his ace from starting Game 2 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Weiss said he had "zero regrets" about using Sale for four outs in Atlanta's win-or-go-home Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sale entered with two outs in the eighth and Atlanta leading by four runs before returning for the ninth, throwing 21 pitches to five batters.

That appearance altered Atlanta's NLDS rotation.

Sale had been positioned to start Sunday at Dodger Stadium on four days' rest. Instead, Atlanta turned to left-hander Ray Kerr to begin its third consecutive bullpen game. Sale is now scheduled to start Game 3 in Atlanta on Tuesday.

"At the end of the day, we want full-strength Chris Sale," Weiss said. "I know him at 80% is really good, but that's what it came down to."

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Weiss added that Atlanta's season-long approach of providing Sale extra rest played a role in the decision.

"Not sure you're getting the best version of him pitching [Sunday]," Weiss said. "We're certain we will pitching Game 3."

Braves betting their season on a fully rested Sale

The decision became even more scrutinized after Atlanta dropped Game 1 to Los Angeles, 5-3.

Sale, 37, produced another Cy Young-caliber campaign in 2026, finishing 14-9 with a 2.16 ERA across 162⅔ innings. He was particularly dominant against the Dodgers on Aug. 27, throwing a shutout while reaching triple digits with his fastball.

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Sale made 25 of his 27 regular-season starts with at least five days of rest, making the bullpen appearance against Philadelphia surprising to some rival executives.

Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. offered little when asked about Sale not starting Game 2.

"I can't control that," Acuña said. "I can control what I can control."

Weiss understands Sale would take the ball whenever asked, but Atlanta is looking beyond one game.

"Chris always wants to throw," Weiss said. "Sometimes you have to take it out of their hands."

Now, Weiss is betting a fully rested Sale can make that decision pay off in Game 3.