Spring training roundup: Braves' Chris Sale outduels Red Sox' Garrett Crochet in battle of aces

Braves defeat Red Sox 6-1 in matchup of Opening Day starters

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:22pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a matchup of left-handed Opening Day starters, Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves outpitched Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox, leading the Braves to a 6-1 victory on Saturday in Fort Myers, Florida. Sale allowed just one run on two hits over six innings, while Crochet gave up six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Why it matters

This spring training game featured a highly anticipated pitching duel between two of the top left-handed starters in the American League, as Sale and Crochet are both expected to take the mound on Opening Day for their respective teams. The outcome provides an early glimpse into how the two aces may fare against each other during the regular season.

The details

Sale struck out four and walked one in an 86-pitch outing, lowering his spring ERA to 2.75. Braves hitters Austin Riley and Matt Olson each had three hits, with Riley hitting a home run and two doubles, driving in four runs. Crochet's spring ERA rose to 7.36 as he allowed six earned runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three.

  • The game took place on Saturday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida.

The players

Chris Sale

An American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and expected to be the team's Opening Day starter.

Garrett Crochet

An American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and expected to be the team's Opening Day starter.

Austin Riley

An American professional baseball player who plays third base for the Atlanta Braves and had a strong offensive performance in the game, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs.

Matt Olson

An American professional baseball player who plays first base for the Atlanta Braves and also had a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This spring training matchup between two of the American League's top left-handed starters provided an early indication of how the regular season could unfold between the Braves and Red Sox, with Sale outdueling Crochet and leading his team to a convincing victory.