A Call That Ignited a Fire
Chris Sale did not just lose his cool; he got kicked out of the game before a pitch was thrown. The Braves left-hander was ejected by third-base umpire Dan Merzel on Sunday during the finale against the Yankees. No reason was given right away, but everyone knows why. Sale was furious about a balk call Merzel made just one day earlier. The dispute started when Merzel, then the home-plate umpire, said Sale twitched his right leg before declaring he would throw from the windup. With the score tied at 2 and Spencer Jones on third, Merzel ruled it a balk. The runner scored, and the Yankees took a 3-2 lead. Walt Weiss, the Braves manager, spent minutes arguing in defense of his pitcher. Weiss was then tossed from the game. It marks the first ejection of his tenure as the Braves’ skipper.
Rules vs. Reality on the Mound
The rulebook is clear, even if the look on Sale’s face said otherwise. Crew chief Dan Bellino explained the situation after the game. “He is required by rule to make that declaration as a hybrid pitcher,” Bellino said. Pitchers who rely on the traditional windup and traditional stretch are not required to make the declaration, according to your traditional view. Sale fits the hybrid category, so the declaration was mandatory. The twitch of the leg was the trigger for the call. Weiss and Sale insisted nothing happened, but the umpire saw it. This kind of friction is rare in a game where millimeters matter. The Yankees won that specific game 5-4, but the anger lingers. The Braves now face a tough test to reset before the next start.
Rest and Velocity in the Balance
Despite the drama, Sale remains a dominant force for Atlanta. He is set to take the mound again in New York with extra days under his belt. The 37-year-old hasn’t pitched since July 29, when he threw six scoreless innings against the Mets. That break has paid off big time. His four-seamer now averages a career-best 96.1 mph this year. His previous high was 95.2 mph back in 2018. Weiss believes the extra time is the secret sauce. “[Extra rest] is one of the things that has kept him strong and kept his velocity where it’s at,” Weiss said. Sale ranks second in the Majors with a 2.08 ERA. The Braves have been smart, giving him just two starts with regular rest all year. Tyler Mahle is stepping in for Friday to keep this plan on track. “So, it will be good to see him,” Weiss said of Mahle’s debut. That story connects to Chris Sale’s Career-High Velocity Puts Yankees’ Gerrit Cole on Notice.
Sale has a 1.31 ERA in seven starts with extra rest. That number is scary good for any team. The Yankees lineup is tough, but Sale is firing on all cylinders. The ejection might sting, but the arm is ready. The Braves need this win to keep the pressure on in the standings. One bad call won’t stop a pitcher this sharp. The series finale is the stage, and Sale is the star.
