Braves' Chris Sale chases first win over Nationals in DH

An intriguing pitching matchup highlights a late-season day-night doubleheader between the visiting Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

Atlanta (67-83) rolled to an 11-3 victory in the series opener on Monday.

The Tuesday nightcap will feature Atlanta veteran left-hander Chris Sale (5-5, 2.52 ERA), who will be opposed by 26-year-old MacKenzie Gore (5-14, 4.14).

Both left-handers have missed time this season due to injury.

Sale sustained a left rib cage fracture on June 18, 2025, during a diving play in his start against the New York Mets. He returned on Aug. 30 and is 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts since coming back. Last time out, he allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. He struck out nine and walked one.

The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner likely will finish with 21 starts this year, and he recently speculated how this season could have gone had he stayed healthy.

"I was just kind of sitting at my locker and wondering, 'What if I didn't get hurt? What if I was able to stay upright this whole year?'" he said.

Sale is 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Nationals. He has not faced them this season.

Gore landed on the injured list on Aug. 30 (retroactive to Aug. 27) because of left shoulder inflammation. He returned on Thursday and allowed two runs on four hits over five innings in a game the Nationals (62-88) lost 5-0 to the Miami Marlins. He fanned four, walked two and retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.

"I thought we were fine," Gore said. "Able to get through five. We knew we were going to stay around 75 (pitches). Just move forward from this. I felt much better than the last time out."

Gore continues to endure a lack of run support. He has received just 3.27 runs per nine innings this season, among the lowest figures in the major leagues.

Gore is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts vs. Atlanta. He has not faced them in 2025.

The Braves had not announced a starter for the day game. Right-hander Jake Irvin (8-12, 5.70 ERA) will start for the Nationals.

Irvin has not won since July 27. He has lost his past seven decisions, including each of his past five starts. On Wednesday, he allowed four runs (three earned) in five-plus innings during an 8-3 loss at Miami.

Irvin is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in six career starts against the Braves. He gave up three runs in six innings during a no-decision at Atlanta on May 12.

Matt Olson had four hits, including a three-run homer and two doubles, and knocked in four runs during the Braves' win on Monday. Drake Baldwin added a homer and two singles, driving in four runs. Ronald Acuna Jr. also homered.

Daylen Lile, who homered and singled for Washington, has reached base in 15 consecutive games. He is hitting .427 (24-for-56) in that span. The Nationals saw their September record fall to 9-5.

"We didn't hit today," interim manager Miguel Cairo said. "They just hit better than us today. They were better. They beat us."

The day game on Tuesday is the makeup of a game rained out on May 21.

--Field Level Media