The Atlanta Braves have officially named Chris Sale as their Opening Day starter, signaling full confidence in the veteran left-hander as the team’s ace heading into the 2026 season. Sale is set to take the mound March 27 at Truist Park against the Kansas City Royals, marking his seventh career Opening Day start and his second with Atlanta. The decision comes as little surprise given Sale’s dominant presence atop the Braves’ rotation and his continued ability to perform at an elite level when healthy.
Coming off another strong campaign, Sale posted a 2.58 ERA with 165 strikeouts over 21 appearances in 2025, further cementing his role as the leader of Atlanta’s pitching staff. Despite dealing with injuries in recent years, the former Cy Young winner has remained one of the most effective pitchers in baseball, and the Braves are once again counting on him to set the tone for a season with postseason aspirations. With questions surrounding the depth of the rotation, Sale’s Opening Day nod underscores just how critical he will be to Atlanta’s success as they look to return to contender status in the National League.
