Braves' Chris Sale Delivers Dominant Start Despite Illness

The veteran pitcher shakes off sickness to lead Atlanta past Oakland 5-1.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:49am

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Despite battling an illness that hampered his velocity, Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale turned in another dominant start, allowing just one run on one hit over six innings in a 5-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. Sale, a nine-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner, didn't mention feeling unwell, but manager Walt Weiss revealed Sale was "sick as a dog" and the team wasn't sure he'd even be able to make the start.

Why it matters

The Braves' starting rotation has faced plenty of doubts, but Sale has proven to be a reliable ace, even when not at full strength. His performance helps solidify the top of Atlanta's staff as the team looks to return to the playoffs after missing out in 2025.

The details

Sale (2-0) retired every Athletics hitter he faced except for a fourth-inning home run to Shea Langeliers. Despite recognizing during his pregame warmup that his pitches lacked their normal velocity, Sale was able to grind through six innings, turning it over to the bullpen to finish the game. Braves manager Walt Weiss said Sale was "a mess" before the game and they weren't sure he'd even be able to make the start, let alone deliver six dominant innings.

  • Sale celebrated his 37th birthday two days before this start.
  • Sale struck out three batters, moving him past Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Warren Spahn for 30th on the career strikeout list. He is now 19 strikeouts away from passing longtime Braves star Tom Glavine.

The players

Chris Sale

A nine-time MLB All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner, Sale is the ace of the Atlanta Braves' starting rotation. Despite battling an illness, he delivered another dominant start, allowing just one run over six innings.

Walt Weiss

The manager of the Atlanta Braves, Weiss revealed that Sale was "sick as a dog" before the game and the team wasn't sure he'd be able to make the start, let alone pitch six strong innings.

Shea Langeliers

The Oakland Athletics catcher who hit the lone run off Chris Sale, a solo home run in the fourth inning.

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What they’re saying

“He was sick as a dog. We didn't even know if he was going to be able to make that start. I was hoping to get three innings out of him. In the best-case scenario, maybe four.”

— Walt Weiss, Braves Manager

“You're not going to have your best stuff every time. I really try to raise my focus on that day. Reaching for more stuff when it's not there is not really the way. I knew I had to find a way to make it a game.”

— Chris Sale

“Hall of Famers, they just operate differently. That's what he is. It was an unbelievable performance considering the circumstances.”

— Walt Weiss, Braves Manager

What’s next

The Braves will look for Sale to continue his strong start as they head on the road to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in their first away series of the season.

The takeaway

Chris Sale's ability to deliver a dominant outing despite battling illness underscores his status as an elite MLB pitcher and a key piece of the Braves' rotation as they aim to return to the playoffs. His performance provides a boost of confidence for the team as they look to build on their early-season success.