There’s some good news but the bad news is he’s still hurt.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale is on the 15-day injured list after fracturing his rib cage making a dive while attempting to field a ground ball late in last Wednesday’s start.
Today, a few updates emerged from sources across the baseball universe which provided some good news mixed in with the bad news that Sale won’t be returning anytime soon.
Sale’s former battery mate with the Chicago White Sox – and former Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski – provided an update during today’s Foul Territory that Sale has two small rib fractures.
Chris Sale told @AJPierzynski12 that he has two small rib fractures and that he’ll be okay. pic.twitter.com/50RoJVOAnd
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 23, 2025
The Athletic’s David O’Brien added that Sale is traveling with the team and receiving treatment while on the road. Furthermore, O’Brien passed along the good news that the Braves expect Sale to pitch again this season.
#Braves fully anticipate Chris Sale pitching again this season, though they won’t have a timeline until they see how soon his fractured rib cage (that’s what they termed it) heals. He’s with the team, Snitker said, because they travel w/ a machine that stimulates bone healing.
— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2025
Sale, 36, was in the midst of another outstanding season with 2.5 fWAR across 15 starts. He was striking out almost 31-percent of the batters he faced this season while walking only 7-percent. He was carrying a 2.65 FIP in 89.1 innings at the time of his injury.
It will be yet another injury-shortened campaign for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner. But, hopefully one that will see him return to the mound later this summer.