Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale, the favorite for the National League Cy Young Award, is out for the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres because of back issues. Sale was a last-minute scratch Monday from the final game of the regular season,

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale was scratched from his scheduled start in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the New York Mets on account of back spasms. The Braves won that game by a 3-0 margin to clinch a playoff berth.

On Monday, following the Braves' 3-0 win over the New York Mets that clinched a postseason berth, Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Sale is unlikely to be available for the Wild Card series against the Padres.