Chris Sale Injury Update: When Will Braves Pitcher Return?

The pitcher has been out of the Braves rotation since June 18 after suffering a rib injury. How long will he be out for?

Matt Burke

Last Updated: July 1, 2025 2:57 PM EDT • 3 minute read

Chris Sale Injury Update When Will Be Back Return — Pictured: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Truist Park. Photo by: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Chris Sale would be well on his way to being discussed as one of the all-time pitching greats if not for myriad injuries over the years. The 36-year-old hurler is once again dealing with a physical setback, as he fractured his left rib cage while diving for a ball on June 18 against the New York Mets.

Braves fans and fantasy baseball owners are now asking when Sale will return and be back on the mound. We will dish out a Sale injury update below, and also project a date for when we could see the gangly lefty pitching again.

🚑 When will Chris Sale return and be back with Braves?

All reports coming out of Braves camp are that Sale will pitch again this season. Sale also downplayed the injury while talking with former Big Leaguer AJ Pierzynski.

“[Sale] said he’d be OK. I talked to him,” Pierzynski said on Foul Territory. “Don’t worry, Braves country. It’s two small rib fractures."

Sale has dealt with a stress fracture in his ribs before. Three years ago, Sale suffered a stress fracture in his right rib cage while throwing live batting practice. The injury proved to be a devastating one for Sale, who was ultimately out of action from February to July that season.

Sale is dealing with fractures in his left rib cage this time around. It typically takes 6-to-12 weeks to recover from small rib fractures.

Given Sale’s injury history and age, the Braves will likely err on the side of caution and wait until near the end of the regular season to bring the lefty back. If Atlanta is out of the playoff hunt, it may elect to not bring Sale back at all this season.

Wednesday, Sept. 10 would be exactly 12 weeks from when the injury occurred. Here is a look at the Braves’ schedule around that time.

Wednesday, Sept. 10: Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves
Friday, Sept. 12: Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves
Saturday, Sept. 13: Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves
Sunday, Sept. 14: Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves
Monday, Sept. 15: Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals

⏳ How long will Chris Sale be out for?

Pitcher Marcus Stroman suffered a rib cage fracture two years ago while he was a member of the Chicago Cubs. He was on the shelf with the injury for just 33 days. That is on the shorter side for recovery for this sort of injury.

Sale will not be returning that quickly, as he has already been out 13 days and is nowhere close to throwing. This will likely be a shorter stint on the IL for Sale than he had three years ago with the Red Sox, but longer than the timeline Stroman was on.

💰 Braves betting odds

Chris Sale was among the betting favorites when it comes to Cy Young odds at the start of the 2025 MLB season. Sale had a +800 price. Only Pittsburgh’s Paul Skene’s (+300) and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler (+750) had shorter numbers. Sale is still listed on Cy Young boards at some sportsbooks around +10000.

As for the Braves’ World Series odds, Atlanta is currently +3900 to win it all. It is +2100 to win the NL East at our best MLB betting sites.

Written by:
Matt Burke

Matt Burke is a veteran sports journalist with expertise in sports betting content. He is a former Evergreen Managing Editor. Prior to that, Matt founded MetroBet - a digital and print sports betting platform for Metro US Newspapers (now AMNY). He also served as the Executive Sports Editor for Metro Newspapers, which had outlets in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Matt has covered Super Bowls and Final Fours and his work has appeared in the past for Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, the Eagle Tribune, Gloucester Daily Times and Newburyport Daily News. Matt is a graduate of UConn (Go Huskies!), where he earned a degree in journalism. His favorite time of year to place bets is right before the start of the NFL season, where he can't help but sprinkle on every single team's season win total. He also enjoys live betting each and every NFL Sunday.