Braves win; Chris Sale is unlikely to start in Game 1 against Padres

A baseball day for the history books ended as many expected – the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets shared a doubleheader to qualify for the playoffs – but the drama on the field and the latest news surrounding it made for what Braves manager Brian Snitker called it a “roller coaster.”

The Mets won 8-7 in a dramatic Game 1 that featured some wild swings and collisions by both teams' closers. The Braves had a 3-0 lead, the Mets fought back with a six-run top of the eighth inning, the Braves regained the lead 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning, then the Mets took the lead for good when Francisco Lindor hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth and casually strolled around the bases.

In the 40 minutes between Games 1 and 2, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters that Chris Sale was ruled out of his scheduled start in Game 2 due to back spasms. About an hour before Game 1, Sale went into Snitker's office to tell him the news.

After winning Monday's nightcap, Snitker said he wasn't optimistic Atlanta would win the National League's Triple Crown winners in the next round against the San Diego Padres. Game 1 takes place on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

“I do not believe that. No. No,” Snitker said when asked if Sale would be available. The Braves will reevaluate Sale's status as they advance to the Division Series.

“He wants to move up,” Snitker said. “We’re hoping that with a little more rest or whatever, we can get him through and get to the next round.”

Sales' replacement and eventual Game 2 hero for the Braves was Grant Holmes (4 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts), a 2014 first-round pick who made his debut in the minors this season after 10 seasons in the minors Big League gave leagues. Holmes was limited to 53 pitches on Monday after throwing 1⅔ innings against the Royals on Sunday.

“If I had known [Sale would be scratched] “I wouldn’t have pitched Grant last night,” Snitker said after the game. Holmes and a patchwork pitching staff helped the Braves secure their seventh straight playoff berth.

The Braves used almost every pitching option available to them. Starter Reynaldo Lopez pitched a scoreless inning on a rest day and starter Max Fried told Snitker he would be ready if necessary. Relievers Joe Jimenez and Raisel Iglesias played in both games. When asked how this all-hands-on-deck approach of recent days would impact his playoff pitching staff, Snitker wasn't sure.

“We have four hours to figure it out,” he said. “I don't know.”

Sale hadn't pitched since Sept. 19, when his velocity faded in the second half of a start in Cincinnati; His speed dropped to an average of 92.7 mph from 95.9 in his previous start. Snitker said Sale has dealt with previous issues regularly throughout the season.

“I think he felt it in Cincinnati, but it's something he's had on and off all year,” Snitker said. “He knows how to handle it.”

The sale worsens injury woes for Atlanta in a season in which Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley and AJ Minter are out for the playoffs, while Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II miss extended periods of the regular season.

Albies was the Braves' offensive star on Monday, getting on base five times, driving in five runs and scoring two more times in both games. He's batting exclusively right-handed for the first time in his professional career after returning from a broken left wrist earlier this month.

“As the day went on I felt more comfortable,” Albies said, “…It’s definitely different.” [right-on-right] if there's a guy who shoots 95-plus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.