Braves' Chris Sale outduels Red Sox' Garrett Crochet in spring training battle

Atlanta tops Boston 6-1 in matchup of Opening Day starters

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:05am

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

Why it matters

The duel between Sale and Crochet, two of the top left-handed starters in the league, provided an early preview of what could be a marquee matchup on Opening Day. The game also highlighted the Braves' offensive firepower, with Austin Riley and Matt Olson each recording three hits, including a home run for Riley.

The details

Sale struck out four and walked one in an 86-pitch outing, lowering his spring training ERA to 2.75. Riley went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs, while Olson also had three hits, two runs, and an RBI. Crochet's spring ERA ballooned to 7.36 as he struggled with his command, throwing 89 pitches and allowing Boston's only run on an Isiah Kiner-Falefa RBI groundout.

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

The players

Chris Sale

The veteran left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, who is expected to be the team's Opening Day starter.

Garrett Crochet

The young left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, who is also expected to be his team's Opening Day starter.

Austin Riley

The Braves' slugging third baseman, who had a standout performance at the plate with three hits, including a home run and two doubles.

Matt Olson

The Braves' first baseman, who also had three hits, two runs, and an RBI in the game.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

The Red Sox infielder who drove in Boston's only run with an RBI groundout.

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The takeaway

The matchup between Sale and Crochet provided an early glimpse of what could be a marquee pitching duel on Opening Day, while also showcasing the offensive firepower of the Braves, who look poised to contend for another division title in 2026.