This time, it wasn’t the painful defeat that stunned the Braves nation. It was the aftermath! You see, the Atlanta Braves blindly count on their $38 million ace’s fastball for a reason. It’s crisp, aggressive, and electric, to say the least. And no, the Braves don’t just count on them when it comes to fastballs. They rely on him heavily to carry the team when things go downhill. We’re sure by now you already know who we’re talking about.

Yes, it’s Chris Sale. During the Sunday afternoon matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field, the Braves suffered a painful 8-3 loss. If you think it’s Sale’s performance that made the headlines, then no. It’s his harsh self-assessment that has stunned everyone. Right after the devastating loss to the Rays, Sale made an unsettling confession that would make you re-read just to believe it.

Sale reportedly stated, “Frustrated would be a wild understatement,” he continued. “I just hate sucking, and I’m just bad. It’s simple.” Apparently, his blunt assessment of himself is just a reflection of how much he’s invested in the game and the team. Sale just had one person to blame – his own self. “I don’t think there was a question who was the worst baseball player on that field today.” Being unable to meet the standards he has set for himself could surely be hurtful.

And that’s not it; he labelled himself “the worst baseball player on the field today,” and nobody agrees with him. His teammates have no second thoughts on his potential. Matt Olson, the first baseman of the Braves, said, “I’m sure this isn’t up to his standards, but there’s not a person in here worried about that guy.” He later emphasized that they simply love it when Sale takes the mound.

The Braves have suffered a defeat in 11 out of their first 15 games. It marks their 6th time in the history of the Atlanta Braves since 1966. Moreover, after the loss against the Rays, it wasn’t fair for Sale to hold himself accountable. Now, it all comes down to whether the Braves will be able to find a way to bounce back at the earliest or not. Till then, all eyes are on the Braves as they head to Toronto for the next game series.

Atlanta Braves are all set for a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays

After a 4-11 record and coming fresh off a brutal loss to the Rays, the Braves don’t have much room for any more errors. They have arrived in Toronto for a three-game series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Looking forward, this time, the Braves need all the odds in their favor to at least go .500 on the team’s second road trip of the season. The right-hander Grant Holmes, who will be taking the mound for the Braves, offers a 0–1 record and a 4.00 ERA. Just a strong outing from Holmes could help Atlanta to regain their lost momentum.

Not to mention, Easton Lucas, the Blue Jays’ lefty, will be against him. Looking at Lucas’ stats, it’s fair to mention that he’s been nearly untouchable. He holds a 2-0 record and an exceptionally good 0.00 ERA across 10.1 innings. It’ll be a bit extra tough for the Braves offense if they want a breakthrough.

On the other hand, the Braves have key pieces like Marcell Ozuna to the rescue. Holding a .306 average and in the lead with 3 home runs, Ozuna will be the face of the Braves offense. Although, at this point, Atlanta requires a united team that has what it takes to change the script for the remaining season. The sense of urgency is real!