Sale to face Brewers after extended layoff

ATLANTA -- Thanks to a rainout, an off-day and some long-range planning, Chris Sale will be pitching with five extra days of rest when he opposes the Brewers on Saturday afternoon at Truist Park.

“We’re building in some extra rest along the way here, just looking at the big picture,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s got a longer layoff here for no particular reason, other than we like how it looks moving forward. That’s the plan, just keep them strong and healthy to the finish line.”

With their starting rotation already weakened by multiple injuries, the Braves can’t afford to lose Sale, who has posted a 2.30 ERA through his first 13 starts. The 37-year-old has made just two of those starts (April 1 and April 6) on regular rest.

The additional rest hasn’t hurt Sale, who has posted a 1.88 ERA in his past 10 starts going back to April 12. His four-seamer has averaged 97 mph (May 28 and June 4) and 97.5 mph (June 10) within his past three starts. Those are the three highest averages this pitch has registered in any of his games since the start of 2019.

Sale’s biggest problem recently has been run support. The Braves have scored one or zero runs while he has been the pitcher of record in four of his past six starts.