Overview
- Braves left-hander Chris Sale was ejected by third-base umpire Dan Merzel as the crew walked past the Braves’ dugout, with the ejection occurring on Sunday before the game’s first pitch.
- The dispute began on Saturday when Merzel called a balk on Sale with a runner at third, a ruling that forced in a go-ahead run in New York’s 5-4 win.
- Crew chief Dan Bellino told reporters the balk was enforced because Sale did not declare he would pitch from the windup, which is the procedural step required of hybrid pitchers when changing delivery.
- Sale was not scheduled to pitch on Sunday, is having a strong season at 12-7 with a 2.20 ERA, and the ejection was the fourth of his major-league career and his first since 2019.
- Video of the pregame toss spread on MLB.com and social media, generating debate over umpire decision-making and raising the likelihood of closer scrutiny of how the windup-declaration rule is applied, though no league discipline has been announced.