Walt Weiss Guarantees Dodgers Won't Sweep as Braves Play the Waiting Game with Chris Sale

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss just turned a routine pitching update into premium bulletin board material for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Braves are holding off on naming a Game 2 starter until they can check the pulse on Chris Sale's left arm. If the veteran feels great, he gets the ball. If not, he rests until Game 3.

"'He’ll definitely pitch this Series. The Dodgers can’t win this in 2 games.' - Walt Weiss"

That is a perfectly normal playoff rotation strategy. What is not normal is Weiss following it up by casually guaranteeing the Dodgers won't sweep the series. 'He'll definitely pitch this Series,' Weiss said. 'The Dodgers can't win this in 2 games.'

You have to respect the sheer audacity of poking the bear while your ace is currently listed as day-to-day with 'we'll see how he feels' syndrome.

The Braves just survived a grueling three-game Wild Card slugfest against the Philadelphia Phillies, wrapping up that series on October 2. Now they have to immediately pivot to Los Angeles, and Weiss is out here writing checks his bullpen might have to cash.

For anyone looking at the series odds, this level of starting rotation uncertainty is a nightmare. Sale is the kind of arm that swings a moneyline by himself, and not knowing if he pitches Game 2 or Game 3 completely scrambles the math for a short series.

We will find out soon enough if Sale's arm is ready for Game 2. But if the Dodgers come out swinging and manage to take the first two games, Weiss is going to have a lot of explaining to do when Sale finally takes the mound for a sudden-death Game 3.