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Two new details surrounding Chris Sale’s injury

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 9:16 AM ET

The Braves have suffered more devastating injuries over the last two seasons than any other club, and the trend continued last week, when it was announced Chris Sale suffered a fractured rib cage and would be heading to the 15-day IL. The timeline is still unknown for his return, but Mark Bowman did report on Monday that Sale is still traveling with the team, offering up any type of guidance these young arms may need as the Braves attempt to right this ship.

Sale (fractured left rib) is traveling with the Braves. That's a plus for the other starters, who can continue to lean on him. He'll get regular treatment, but it's still too early to guess when he could return. August seems likely, but it's all about how quickly the bone heals.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 23, 2025

Typically, broken ribs can sideline athletes anywhere from one to two months, depending on the severity. So, an August return does seem probable; however, Sale will likely need some rehab assignments to build back up before he rejoins the Braves.

A.J. Pierzynski, who played for the Braves and was teammates with Chris Sale in Chicago as well, also offered a bit of inside information on the situation. Sale told him that he has two small rib fractures and that he’ll be fine.

Chris Sale told @AJPierzynski12 that he has two small rib fractures and that he'll be okay. pic.twitter.com/50RoJVOAnd

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 23, 2025

Obviously, small rib fractures sound a helluva lot better than big ones, but it’s still way too early to tell when Sale might be able to return.

In his place, 20-year-old Didier Fuentes will get an extended opportunity after making his MLB debut last Friday. We could also see a couple of other new faces in the meantime, as the Braves try to piece this thing together. A win against the Mets last night gives the club a little bit of hope, but there’s still a giant hole to climb out of, and the challenge just got infinitely more difficult with Chris Sale expected to miss at least a month.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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