{"id":666548,"date":"2026-04-06T15:18:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T15:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/666548\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T15:18:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T15:18:20","slug":"after-being-a-mess-braves-chris-sale-pursues-another-strong-effort-in-clash-vs-angels-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/666548\/","title":{"rendered":"After being ‘a mess,’ Braves’ Chris Sale pursues another strong effort in clash vs. Angels – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris Sale wasn\u2019t feeling his best in his most recent start.<\/p>\n

Not that the Athletics could tell.<\/p>\n

The Atlanta Braves\u2019 ace allowed only one hit over six innings \u2014 a solo homer by Shea Langeliers \u2014 in a 5-1 victory last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Sale (2-0, 0.75 ERA), a left-hander, is scheduled to return to the mound Monday night when the Braves open a three-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was sick as a dog. We didn\u2019t know if he was going to be able to make that start,\u201d Braves manager Walt Weiss said of Sale last week. \u201cI was hoping to be able to get three innings out of him \u2014 best-case scenario, probably four. He just couldn\u2019t keep anything down (in his stomach) \u2014 he\u2019s a mess. It was touch-and-go before the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut true to form, he takes the ball and goes out there and gives us six innings, one hit. Hall of Famers, they just operate differently, and that\u2019s what he (likely) is. It was an unbelievable performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sale, the National League\u2019s 2024 Cy Young Award winner, said he knew he didn\u2019t have his best stuff when warming up before the game in the bullpen. His fastball sat in the low 90-mph range, down from his usual 94-96.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to have your best stuff every time, so I really tried to focus on raising my focus,\u201d Sale said. \u201cReaching for more stuff when it\u2019s not there is not really a way \u2026 to win this game. Just really focused (more on location) than trying to out-stuff guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sale got a boost from catcher Drake Baldwin, the NL\u2019s reigning Rookie of the Year, who drove in four of the Braves\u2019 five runs on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been doing it forever \u2014 that\u2019s why he\u2019s as good as he is,\u201d Baldwin said of the 37-year-old Sale. \u201cHe\u2019s able to lean on some other pitches when he might not have the same (velocity) all the time on his fastball. But the changeup and the slider, being able to throw it for strikes and execute down in the zone, kept (the A\u2019s) off balance and allowed him to get through six innings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sale, who walked none and struck out three vs. the A\u2019s, is 8-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Angels, including nine starts, with 76 strikeouts over 65 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

While the Braves suffered a pair of one-run losses over the weekend in Arizona, the Angels posted two one-run wins against visiting Seattle. <\/p>\n

The Angels won 8-7 in 11 innings Sunday on Nolan Schanuel\u2019s sacrifice fly, but got a scare when outfielder Mike Trout had to leave in the eighth after being hit on the back of the left hand by a Casey Legumina fastball.<\/p>\n

The Angels said X-rays were negative and Trout is day-to-day with a contusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter looking at how swollen it got, it scared me,\u201d said Trout, a three-time American League MVP and an 11-time All-Star. \u201cSo I\u2019m just relieved it\u2019s not broken.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though it was the second time Trout was plunked in the series, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said he didn\u2019t see any malicious intent.<\/p>\n

\u201cBalls slip,\u201d Suzuki said. \u201cIt\u2019s baseball. Like I said the other night, it\u2019s part of the game. Obviously, you don\u2019t want him to get hit. Or see Mike get hurt. But at the same time, you understand, I was a catcher, that they\u2018re trying to get guys out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Angels are set to start right-hander Jose Soriano (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on Monday. Soriano is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in three previous appearances against Atlanta, with two starts.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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