ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta Braves southpaw Chris Sale will make his first rehab start with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers on Tuesday against Louisville, manager Brian Snitker said prior to Friday’s 7:15 p.m. start against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park.

The 36-year-old has been out since mid-June after he fractured two ribs while making a diving defensive play. He threw 30 pitches in two simulated innings on Thursday, the last step before Sale’s rehab assignment.

Along with Sale, the rest of the team’s Opening Day rotation – Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder), Grant Holmes (elbow), AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) — is on the 60-day injured list. Spencer Strider opened the season on the injured list and joined the team in mid-April.

“This is Major League Baseball, this is the big leagues,” Sale said Thursday. “I’ve been taught to get outs anyway you possibly can. It kind of sucks for what happened and how long it had to take.”

Sale began throwing at the four-week mark and threw three bullpen sessions prior to Thursday.

Once Sale comes back, he’ll front a rotation currently led by Strider and Bryce Elder, with Joey Wentz, Erick Fedde and Carlos Carrasco also in the mix. Sale currently has a 2.52 ERA in 89.1 innings over 15 starts, with 114 strikeouts.

With six weeks left in the season, and due to the fact that this is a lost season, many speculated that the team sit Sale, Schwellenbach and the other players out with injury for the rest of the season in preparation for 2026.

If he was healthy, there was no way Sale was going to sit out. That’s the competitor in him.

“I don’t care what our record says,” Sale said. “I like to compete and I want to go out there and do my job. I’ve missed enough baseball in my career that (ending the season with an injury) isn’t something that I’m okay with.”

Braves add Bruján

The Braves on Friday added infielder Vidal Bruján off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, bringing organization depth to the roster.

He will report to Atlanta on Saturday for the team’s doubleheader against Miami.

“He’s a versatile guy,” Snitker said. “He can play the infield, the outfield … when you’re adding guys this time of year, it’s hard. He’ll be here (Saturday).”

Bruján has spent time with the Orioles and Chicago Cubs this season, slashing .239/.250/.304 across 46 at-bats. The 27-year-old played in 99 games with the Tampa Bay Rays between 2021 and 2023, then 102 games with the Miami Marlins in 2024.

A corresponding move will be announced Saturday when the team officially adds Bruján to the 40-man roster.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

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