Braves Pitcher Chris Sale Ejected Before Game Against Yankees

Chris Sale, the ace pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before the start of a game against the New York Yankees. This incident marks Sale's fourth career ejection, with the last occurring in 2019 while he was with the Boston Red Sox.

The ejection transpired as umpires approached the Braves' dugout, where Sale began to express his frustrations. Following a brief discussion with crew chief Dan Bellino, Sale was sent off the field. Earlier in the game, he had been called for a balk by Merzel during the fifth inning, which allowed rookie Spencer Jones to score after hitting an RBI triple.

Bellino later explained that Sale was penalized for not declaring his intention to pitch from the windup before facing Austin Wells, despite having done so earlier in the game against José Caballero. This miscommunication led to the heated exchange that resulted in Sale's ejection.

In the game, Sale allowed three runs and five hits over six innings, suffering his first loss since June 28. Currently in his third season with the Braves, Sale holds a record of 12-7 with an impressive 2.20 ERA across 21 starts.