ATLANTA, Ga. – Atlanta Braves southpaw Chris Sale was activated from the 60-day injured list on Saturday to face the Phillies in Philadelphia, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out nine across six innings of work (78 pitches).

The team ultimately lost that game to the Phillies, 3-2. But it gave a team pummeled with injuries a glimpse of what could’ve been— what could’ve been if the team hadn’t lost all of its Opening Day starting pitchers – Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Grant Holmes – to injuries, while the offense opened the season in a slump.

With a month to go, all of the team’s opening day starters besides Sale are out for the season. Lo and behold, Sale returned. And he gets his next task of facing the Seattle Mariners on Friday at Truist Park.

It’s his first start in Atlanta since June 18, when he fractured his rib on a diving play.

The team won seven of Sale’s last 11 starts before injury. With a record of 63-77 (12 games out of a wild card spot) as of Friday, there isn’t really much hope left to go around.

Sale has a team-friendly $18 million option on his contract that the Braves will certainly pick up, and he’ll front Atlanta’s rotation come 2026.

Ha-Seong Kim makes first home start with Atlanta

Friday marks the home opener for Ha-Seong Kim, who’ll start at shortstop for the remainder of the season, according to manager Brian Snitker.

Kim, formerly with the Tampa Bay Rays, joined the club on Tuesday and immediately made an impact with a go-ahead, three-run home run to lead the Braves past the Chicago Cubs, 5-1.

It was the first home run by a Braves shortstop this season.

“(Kim’s) a good acquisition,” Snitker said. “I wouldn’t mind him playing every game that’s left, if he could, because we can see what he can bring to this club as he already did.”

First pitch is at 7:15 p.m.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

Fans can watch Saturday’s Braves on Gray simulcast by tuning into Atlanta News First over the air on channel 46 or on YouTube TV, Dish Network, DirecTV, Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.