Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle lined up to start Braves’ Wild Card Series

By Mark Bowman, Braves.com

ATLANTA — With the National League East title secured and the No. 3 seed all but settled, the Atlanta Braves will use the final week of the regular season to prepare for the postseason and answer several questions about their pitching staff.

Chris Sale is scheduled to start Wednesday against Cincinnati after six extra days of rest. That schedule would line up the 37-year-old left-hander to pitch Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Sept. 29 with an additional day of rest.

Tyler Mahle is expected to start Thursday’s series finale against the Reds, positioning him for Game 2 on extra rest.

The greater uncertainty surrounds a potential Game 3 starter. Grant Holmes and Martín Pérez appear to be the leading candidates.

Holmes allowed two runs over six innings Saturday against Houston, although the Astros consistently made hard contact. Eight of the 20 balls put in play against him were hit at least 100 mph, and 12 registered exit velocities of 95 mph or higher.

Pérez surrendered one run in 4 1/3 innings Sunday. If he starts Friday’s series opener at Miami, he would be available for a decisive Wild Card game with an extra day of rest. The Braves could instead start him Saturday because the veteran left-hander has said he prefers pitching on regular rest.

Atlanta is also monitoring reliever Robert Suarez, who worked a scoreless inning Sunday during a rehabilitation appearance for Triple-A Gwinnett. It was his first game action since experiencing discomfort in his right elbow following a June 19 appearance.

Manager Walt Weiss would like Suarez to make multiple major league appearances before the postseason, but the team has not committed to that plan. A healthy Suarez could strengthen a bullpen featuring Didier Fuentes, Raisel Iglesias and Dylan Lee, though Lee has struggled during the second half.

Bryce Elder appears unlikely to make the Wild Card roster after undergoing a Sept. 8 procedure to remove bone fragments near his right knee. Elder, however, began throwing with limited effort from a mound Saturday and said he is on or slightly ahead of his three-to-four-week recovery timetable. His availability could become important in the Division Series, particularly if Holmes and Pérez are needed in the Wild Card round.

The final week also offers opportunities for individual milestones.

Matt Olson’s two-run homer Friday gave him his second 40-homer season with Atlanta, placing him alongside Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Andruw Jones as the only Braves to accomplish the feat multiple times.

Acuña’s go-ahead grand slam Saturday secured his third career 20-homer, 20-steal season, joining Aaron, Jones and Ron Gant as the only Braves with at least three.