Atlanta Braves
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By: Paul Casella
ATLANTA — Chris Sale did not even give Walt Weiss a chance to settle in before popping into the manager’s office ahead of the Braves’ winner-take-all showdown against the Phillies.
✅ GAME
✅ SERIES#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/j6IU8F14FP— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
The Braves’ ace had an important matter to address before Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday night at Truist Park.
Celebrating with the Skipper 🫡 pic.twitter.com/huMX5fLMko
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
“First of all, I was not going to go to Chris Sale and ask him if he could pitch tonight,” Weiss said after the Braves’ series-clinching 6-2 win. “I didn’t want to put him in that position, because I knew that, even if he was hanging, he would tell me yes. So I was not going to bring it up.”
Sale-ing into October ⛵#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/XlPzahzpdo
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Turns out, Weiss didn’t need to.
When the stakes are highest, we’re at our best. #LetItFly pic.twitter.com/ud7YqUjetg
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
“Literally as soon as I stepped in my office this afternoon, he was sitting in the chair across from my desk,” Weiss said. “And he looked at me and he said, ‘I feel amazing.’”
Red October, indeed 😎#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/gKgur4gt53
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Weiss’ response?
“Well, let’s talk.”
Come Sale away, come Sale away, come Sale away to the NLDS ⛵ pic.twitter.com/1fIvTIYaRP
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
From there, the two laid out a plan that ultimately saw Sale take down the final four outs of the Braves’ first postseason series win since the 2021 World Series. Keep in mind, Sale also recorded the club’s first 19 outs of this Wild Card Series as the Game 1 starter in Atlanta’s 5-3 victory two days earlier.
Dubi! 🥽 pic.twitter.com/Rz5GdJ8ahd
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
In doing so, Sale became the first pitcher to start Game 1 of a postseason series and finish off that same series since … Chris Sale. He previously did the same thing for the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series against the Dodgers.
The last out from @BravesRadioNet booth!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/VVPDuJrjWp
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Sale joined Clayton Kershaw as the only pitchers to accomplish the feat multiple times in postseason history.
“What a warrior, man,” Weiss said. “This guy — I’ve run out of superlatives for Chris Sale. Been talking about him all year. He’s one of the best I’ve ever been around.”
Celebration formation 🫡 pic.twitter.com/9oPoxfbiKM
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Even with Sale’s mid-afternoon ambush opening up some options for Weiss, their meticulously crafted plan only worked if all of the pieces fell into place.
THANK YOU, #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/BxBoCY5T6z
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Ray Kerr had to go out and do his job as the opener. Grant Holmes had to take it from there and relay the torch to a trio of relievers — Robert Suarez, Didier Fuentes and Dylan Dodd — who each had to take care of business.
Enter Sale-man 🤘#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/3Qmve55zfw
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
And even then, the offense also needed to do its part. Michael Harris II checked that box early with a three-run homer in the first inning, then Ozzie Albies (a two-run shot in the fourth) and Matt Olson (a solo blast in the seventh) tacked on.
#LetItFly https://t.co/4x1ud4MoLC pic.twitter.com/PS332He2KY
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
“Unbelievable. I’m just thankful for the opportunity, honestly,” Sale said. “This could not be more of a group effort. This was basically a culmination of our entire year. All hands on deck. Everyone is doing everything they can to just get a win for this team.”
Safe to say everything went to plan?
😮💨 pic.twitter.com/r4qZvghDkB
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Well, sort of.
Knowing the plan was to pitch against the top of the Phillies’ order in either the eighth or the ninth inning, Sale started to throw in the bullpen in the top of the seventh. But when Olson’s homer extended the Braves’ lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh, it altered the strategy.
OZZIE WE LOVE HIM.#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/zgwxdAT3hi
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Even with Philadelphia’s 9-1-2 hitters due up, Weiss instead went with the left-handed Dodd to start the eighth. He gave up a leadoff triple to pinch-hitter Derek Hill, who then scored on Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly to cut the lead to four.
Needing to face at least three batters, Dodd had to stay in to face Kyle Schwarber — the same guy who homered in the eighth inning off Dylan Lee one day earlier to trigger the Phillies’ Game 2 comeback. Dodd was up to the task, though, getting MLB’s regular-season home run leader to fly out for the second out.
Things I did during the game:
-prayed (top of the 1st)
-cried happy tears (bottom of the 6th)
-walked away then came back in 30 seconds (top of the 7th)
-transcendental meditation session (bottom of the 8th)
-cried happy tears (bottom of the 8th)
-more happy tears (top of…— Erin on deck (@erinnicolee17) September 29, 2026
Then, it was showtime: Sale vs. Bryce Harper.
A nice outing for Grant 👏 pic.twitter.com/sdCyyuCYwI
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
“Electric,” Harris said of the moment Sale emerged from the bullpen.
“The best,” Albies said. “The minute I saw him getting warmed up, I said, ‘He’s definitely coming in. I love this.’ The energy, the excitement there — everybody was pumped that he came in the game.”
LET. IT. FLY. OZZIE!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/amQMImvxao
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Well, everyone except the Phillies.
Game 3: pic.twitter.com/g76oFznbzd
— Erin on deck (@erinnicolee17) October 2, 2026
Sale struck out Harper on four pitches, getting him to chase three sliders well out of the zone. The last one missed badly enough to go to the backstop, but catcher Drake Baldwin tracked it down to throw out Harper.
Now came another decision for Weiss: Let Sale go back out for the ninth or turn it over to closer Raisel Iglesias with a four-run lead?
With Iglesias warming just in case, the home crowd roared as Sale emerged from the dugout to trot back out for the ninth. Four batters later, the Braves had punched their ticket for an NLDS showdown with the Dodgers.
Good night, #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/DauJZElcnm
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
“Was hoping he only had to go one,” Weiss said, “but he had to get to four outs.”
All told, Sale — the Braves’ presumed starter for Sunday’s Game 2 — threw 21 pitches over 1 1/3 innings.
Is he still good to go for Sunday?
“I don’t know. I have no idea,” Weiss said. “We weren’t even worried about that. It was just, ‘Put this thing down and then we’ll have those conversations later.’ But yeah, we haven’t even talked about that. It was all about tonight.”
If Weiss has any doubts, he’ll certainly be getting another visit this weekend at Dodger Stadium.
MOVING 🔛#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/OMXgAidhYM
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
“If I had to pitch tomorrow,” Sale said, “I’d pitch tomorrow.”
Braves Country‼️
Come out to @TruistPark tomorrow to send the guys off to LA ✈️#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/zjddLtgSCE
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 2, 2026
Braves will now face the Dodgers on Sunday in Game 1 of the NLDS!
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