That’d be good enough for a win most days, but not with the Braves being limited to one run today. Sale dropped to 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA. The 10-strikeout game was his first in 2025 and 88th of his career. He’s slated to face the Reds next time out.

This was better by Sale, but still not necessarily good. He just can’t seem to wrangle his slider which has made him very predictable all season. He threw just three of them total when behind in the count and literally only threw a fastball when he was in a two or three ball count and the hitter had fewer than two strikes. His velocity has fully rebounded though, which is a great sign he could go on a hot streak soon. It’s just frustrating he was spotted a three-run lead early and couldn’t make it past the fifth inning. Things won’t get easier for him either, as his next start is scheduled to come against the Rockies in Coors Field.

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.