The Atlanta Braves will likely be without their ace in this week's Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres.

On Monday, after the Braves' 3-0 win over the New York Mets that clinched a postseason berth, Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Sale likely would not be available for the Wild Card series against the Padres will stand.

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Sale was sidelined from his scheduled start in the second game of the doubleheader because of back spasms. Now the Braves will be without their best pitcher at the start of the postseason.

Sale is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, his first with the Braves. Atlanta acquired Sale from the Boston Red Sox this offseason, along with cash for infielder Vaughn Grissom. Sale then had its best season since 2018, going 18-3 with a Major League-best 2.38 ERA and a National League-best 225 strikeouts.

Sale is the heavy favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award this year, which would be the first of his storied career. Sale made seven All-Star teams from 2012 to 2018 and was in the top six in Cy Young voting each year. He finished second in 2017 during his time with the Red Sox.

However, his first season in Holland was dominant and the 35-year-old was expected to play a key role in Atlanta's postseason run. However, he will now not be available for at least the Wild Card series, which is a best-of-three series from Tuesday to Thursday. All three games will take place in San Diego.

Padres manager Mike Shildt announced his starters for the three-game series. Michael King will pitch in Game 1, Joe Musgrove will pitch in Game 2 and Dylan Cease would pitch in a win-or-go-home Game 3.

This story will be updated…