Braves ace Chris Sale ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before start of game against Yankees

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale faced immediate ejection by umpire Dan Merzel prior to the start of Sunday's game against the New York Yankees, following a balk call that resulted in a run during Saturday's 5-4 loss. The altercation began as umpires approached the Braves' dugout on the third base side, with Sale vocalizing his displeasure as Merzel intervened.

Sale's third career balk call occurred, coming after a triple and RBI by rookie Spencer Jones. However, Sale's fury was not limited to Merzel alone; manager Walt Weiss joined the fray, leading to his own ejection. Umpire Dan Bellino later explained that Sale's balk violation was due to the pitcher's failure to declare his intent to pitch from the windup, despite having done so in the previous at-bat.

This marked Sale's fourth ejection in his career, a first since 2019, while his most recent loss came on June 28. During his third season with the Braves, Sale is 12-7 with a 2.20 ERA in 21 starts.