Braves Reinstate Chris Sale from Injured List for Phillies Start

The Atlanta Braves reinstated reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale from the 60-day injured list, marking his first start since suffering a fractured left rib in June. Sale, who had been sidelined for over two months, demonstrated strong performance in his rehab starts and had been dominant before his injury, posting a 2.52 ERA and 114 strikeouts in just over 89 innings. His return comes at a crucial time as the Braves have struggled with injuries to key rotation players and are out of postseason contention for the first time since 2017. Despite the team's struggles, Sale remains a pivotal figure, with teammates and management praising his leadership, professionalism, and determination to pitch regardless of the Braves' standing. Sale's activation also led to Nathan Wiles being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, while Cal Quantrill remains on the roster to provide bullpen support. The front office and fans view Sale's return as vital for his health and the team's future, especially with the 2026 rotation expected to be anchored by him again.