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Braves Seek First Win of 2025 Behind Cy Young Winner Chris Sale Against Dodgers' Dustin May
about 1 year agoUS
The Atlanta Braves are reeling, starting the 2025 season with a concerning 0-5 record. Amidst struggles spanning offense, pitching, and defense, they turn to reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale for his second start, hoping he can stop the skid against the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Dustin May, who is making his own return to the mound.
Key Insights
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Rough Start: The Braves have lost their first five games due to a combination of factors including an ineffective offense deviating from past successful approaches, poor relief pitching, defensive miscues, and even a PED suspension.
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Why this matters: An 0-5 start puts immediate pressure on the team, especially one with high expectations, making each subsequent game crucial to regain momentum.
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Sale on the Mound: 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale takes the ball for his second start. His first outing was statistically solid (7 Ks, 1 BB) but resulted in three runs allowed due to poor defense and timing.
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Why this matters: Sale's performance is critical. As the ace and reigning Cy Young winner, the Braves rely on him to deliver dominant performances, especially to halt losing streaks.
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May's Return: The Dodgers counter with Dustin May, making his first MLB start in nearly two years following Tommy John surgery and a subsequent esophageal tear that sidelined him for the rest of 2024.
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Why this matters: May was effective before his injuries (career 3.5 fWAR in 191.2 IP). His return adds an element of unpredictability; the Braves haven't faced him since the 2020 NLCS.
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Offensive Woes: Atlanta's hitters have struggled, characterized by weak swings and watching strikes, a departure from their successful strategies in recent years.
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Why this matters: Without offensive support, even strong pitching performances can be wasted. The lineup needs to wake up quickly to secure wins.
In-Depth Analysis
The Atlanta Braves find themselves in an early-season hole, desperately needing a victory after dropping their first five contests. The path to 0-5 has been paved with various issues: uncharacteristically poor hitting, shaky relief efforts, defensive lapses, and bad luck. The team's front page is described as being "littered with everything you could ever need to know about why the Braves are 0-5."
Hope rests heavily on the shoulders of Chris Sale, the veteran lefty who captured the NL Cy Young Award in 2024 after a stellar comeback season (18-3, 2.38 ERA, 225 Ks). His performance reinvigorated his Hall of Fame case. However, his first start of 2025, despite good strikeout-to-walk numbers, was marred by circumstances leading to three runs charged against him. He did beat the Dodgers in a start last September. Tuesday marks his sixth career Opening Day start, highlighting his veteran status, though it's his first since 2019 due to various injuries between 2020-2023.
Across the diamond, the Braves face Dustin May, a talented right-hander whose career has been significantly interrupted by injury. Nearly two years removed from his last major league start due to Tommy John surgery and a subsequent, unrelated esophageal tear, May looks to re-establish himself. While his Spring Training wasn't eye-popping, his career numbers (74 ERA-, 86 FIP-) show his potential when healthy. The Braves last saw him during the 2020 NLCS, where the Dodgers won both games he started. Facing a pitcher returning from such a long layoff presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the struggling Braves' bats.
FAQs
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Q: Why have the Braves started the season 0-5?
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A: The winless start is attributed to multiple factors, including an underperforming offense, inconsistent pitching (both starting and relief), defensive errors, and potentially some bad luck or "shenanigans" as described in reports.
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Q: Who is Chris Sale?
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A: Chris Sale is a veteran left-handed starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and the reigning 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner. He had a dominant season in 2024 after overcoming several injury-plagued years.
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Q: Who is Dustin May?
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A: Dustin May is a right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers returning from nearly two years away from the majors due to Tommy John surgery and a subsequent esophageal tear. He was considered a promising young pitcher before his injuries.
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Q: What happened in Sale's first start of 2025?
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A: Sale pitched reasonably well statistically (7 strikeouts, 1 walk in 5 innings) but allowed three runs due to defensive issues and unfortunate hit sequencing, resulting in a no-decision.
Key Takeaways
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This is a critical early-season game for the Braves to avoid digging a deeper hole.
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Watch if Chris Sale can deliver a truly dominant "ace" performance to lift the team.
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Observe the Braves' offensive approach – can they be more aggressive and effective against May?
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Monitor Dustin May's effectiveness in his return from significant injuries.
Discussion
The pressure is mounting for Atlanta. Can Chris Sale play the stopper role and get the Braves their first win?
*Do you think the Braves' early struggles are a blip or a sign of bigger issues? Let us know!*
*Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!*
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Sources & References
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Battery Power: Atlanta Braves will try, try, again to get first win of season in Chris Sale’s second start of 2025
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FanGraphs Baseball: Triple Crown Winners and Cy Young Hopefuls Headline This Year’s Crop of Opening Day Starters
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FantasyPros: Chris Sale to make next start Tuesday - Chris Sale News
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