Sale takes big step toward return with first live BP session since rib injury

12:33 AM UTC

ATLANTA -- Braves starting pitcher is a step closer to returning to Atlanta’s rotation.

The left-hander, who went on the 60-day injured list on June 21 (retroactive to June 19) after fracturing his rib cage on a diving play during a June 18 game against the Mets, threw his first live batting practice session since his injury on Thursday afternoon ahead of Atlanta’s series opener against Miami at Truist Park.

Sale threw 30 pitches (two simulated innings) off the mound and faced two hitters -- a righty and a lefty.

“Today was a good box to check after kind of a long layoff,” Sale said. “When you go through something like this, the most important thing is feeling good afterwards. I was able to throw a lot of strikes, too. We’ll see what [Friday] brings and we’ll go from there.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Sale will come to the ballpark on Friday and the team will evaluate the next steps. Sale could throw another live BP session or make a Minor League rehab start.

“He’s had no setbacks and done all the bullpens, culminating into today,” Snitker said. “That was a really good step right there. Hopefully, he comes in [Friday] and we kind of plot the next course.”

Sale is leaving the next steps up to the Braves’ staff.

“I wear a uniform and those are decisions for people above me,” Sale said. “I’ll come in [Friday] and kind of move around and see what’s going on, and make a plan from there.”

Sale said it took about four weeks before he felt comfortable enough to start throwing again.

“I would say it was pretty stagnant for the first couple of weeks,” Sale said. “The first couple of weeks just felt like it was never [going to] get better. I want to say I hit the three-week mark and that was the first time I really noticed. I was like ‘OK, it’s kind of starting to get better.’ I got to four weeks and it was basically fine. That’s kind of when we started playing catch, at the four-week mark.

“Ever since then, every day just got a little bit better.”

Sale gradually progressed with his throwing before graduating to a live BP session.

“I played catch to 150 feet,” Sale said. “I played long toss. I [was] throwing all my pitches and got on the mound three times before [Thursday]. I was confident moving forward kind of after the four-week mark.”

Specifically, Sale broke his sixth and seventh ribs when he came off the mound and dove for a Juan Soto dribbler on the right side of the infield in the ninth inning of the Braves’ 5-0 win at Citi Field.

Sale made the play for the first out of the inning and he stayed in the game to get the second out before giving way to closer Raisel Iglesias, who secured the final out of the game.

“I cracked them on that diving play,” Sale said. “That’s what happens when pitchers try to be athletes. I think next time, I might just let [second baseman] Ozzie [Albies] get that one. It’s one of those things. This is Major League Baseball. This is the big leagues. I’ve been taught to get outs in any way you possibly can. It just kind of sucks given what happened and how long it had to take.

“It’s a little bit easier of a pill to swallow knowing it wasn’t an arm injury. It was kind of a freak thing on one of those hustle plays. I didn’t have too many nights staring at my ceiling at 3 a.m., because of it.”

Though the Braves (47-66) entered Thursday nearly 20 games under .500 and 17 1/2 games back of the National League East-leading Phillies, Sale has no reservations about getting back on the mound this season.

“I don’t care what the record says, I like to compete and I want to go out there and do my job,” Sale said. “I’ve missed enough baseball in my career that this isn’t something where I’m OK with being done. I think it’s important to finish a year not on the [injured list] and be able to hang my hat on the fact that I was able to finish the year pitching, going into the offseason knowing that there’s no real questions or concerns.”

Sale (5-4) has a 2.52 ERA in 15 starts (89 1/3 innings) with 114 strikeouts and a 1.164 WHIP this season.