The Braves have dealt with more major injuries over the past two seasons than any other team, and that unfortunate pattern continued last week with the news that Chris Sale suffered a fractured rib cage and was placed on the 15-day injured list. While there’s no clear timetable for his return, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman noted Monday that Sale is still traveling with the team, offering mentorship to the Braves’ younger pitchers as they work to steady the season.
Rib fractures generally require one to two months to heal, depending on how severe they are. An August return appears likely, but Sale will probably need a rehab stint before rejoining the major league roster.
Former Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who was also a teammate of Sale’s in Chicago, shared a bit of insight after speaking with him. According to Pierzynski, Sale said he has two small rib fractures and assured him he’ll be okay.
While “small” fractures sound far less serious than major ones, it’s still too soon to project an exact return date.
In the meantime, 20-year-old Didier Fuentes will have an extended chance to prove himself after debuting last Friday. The Braves could also call on a few other young arms as they try to patch together their rotation. Monday’s win over the Mets was a small step forward, but the team still faces an uphill battle—and losing Chris Sale for at least a month only makes it tougher.