Sale had the swing-and-miss stuff Saturday, as he generated 14 of them before exiting. The exit was earlier than fantasy managers, Atlanta and Sale would like because he needed 98 pitches to get his 13 outs. That’s partially due to allowing three walks, but he also allowed six hits in a start that was better than the line score suggests, but still disappointing. Sale will try to keep lowering his 6.17 ERA next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

The 36-year-old southpaw struck out five batters on the evening and didn’t allow a base on balls. Kyle Schwarber got him for a two-run triple in the third inning and a solo blast in the fifth while Nick Castellanos added a run-scoring single and an RBI double against him in the game. Sale generated 15 swings and misses 86 pitches in the game — eight of them on his slider — while posting a strong CSW of 35 percent. He’ll look to improve upon his 6.75 ERA and 1.36 WHIP when he does battle against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Sale was cruising through five scoreless frames, allowing just one hit until the Dodgers got to him in the sixth. Shohei Ohtani led off the frame with a base hit, then Mookie Betts put the Dodgers on top with a two-run blast. Tommy Edman followed with a single. That would be it for Sale. Edman would eventually score, ending Sale’s night with three runs allowed and five strikeouts over five innings. The 36-year-old left-hander is in line to take on the Phillies in Atlanta next Tuesday.