The Braves head into this weekend’s Braves Vs Cardinals series in St. Louis with Chris Sale tasked with providing a response after one of his least convincing outings in a Braves uniform. Sale will take the ball just before the All-Star Break, and Atlanta will be hoping the left-hander can quickly reset after allowing two homers against the Mets.
That most recent start was a reminder that even the most reliable pitchers can have an off night. Sale worked five innings, gave up two home runs and finished with a 3/2 K/BB ratio, which stood out because it was one of the few times this season that he did not look fully in control.
Sale’s history against the Cardinals still matters
There is, though, a reason the Braves are likely to feel comfortable handing the ball to Sale in St. Louis. He faced the Cardinals once in 2015 and once again in 2023, and on both occasions he dominated them. That history does not guarantee anything this weekend, but it does give Atlanta a strong baseline of trust.
For a Braves club that has had mixed results in series play since late June, the timing is important. Atlanta started the season strongly in series results, but its recent run has been less convincing, with one of those six recent series losses coming in a stretch that has made every game feel a little more significant.
Why this start is different
The Braves last won a series between June 19-21 before their recent stretch, and they did at least steady themselves earlier this week by winning a series in Pittsburgh. Now they move on to a Cardinals team trying to keep its own season on track.
Before the Brewers series, the Cardinals held the NL’s last playoff spot with a one-game lead over the Marlins. After that series, they lost four of five and their playoff odds fell from about 40 percent to about 30 percent. That shift adds another layer to a weekend in which both teams arrive with something to prove.
The Braves are still positioned to keep pushing in the NL picture, but this is the kind of start that can matter beyond one result. If Sale finds his rhythm again, Atlanta can leave St. Louis with more confidence before the break. If not, the questions around a rare poor outing will linger a little longer.
