Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was a late scratch for Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader vs. the New York Mets due to back spasms with the Braves needing a win to advance to the playoffs.
Right-handed reliever Grant Holmes, who is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA this season, got the start in Sale’s place. Sale, the favorite to win the National League Cy Young award, was 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA this season.
The Braves needed to win one of the two games Monday to clinch a wildcard berth. They started Spencer Schwellenbach in Game 1, who pitched a gem until the eighth inning, when the Mets blew a three-run lead and then a one-run lead in the ninth to lose the game to the Mets.
A Braves win in Game 2 on Monday would have them facing the San Diego Padres Tuesday in the wild-card opener. A loss would clinch a the No. 6 seed for the Arizona Diamondbacks.