On August 9, 2026, during a game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Braves pitcher Chris Sale was ejected before the first pitch was thrown. The incident stemmed from Sale's ongoing frustration over a controversial balk call made during the previous day's game.
In the Saturday matchup, Sale was called for a balk by umpire Dan Merzel, a decision that Sale vehemently disagreed with. The call contributed to the Braves' narrow 5-4 loss to the Yankees. Sale's dissatisfaction carried over to Sunday, where he confronted Merzel during the pre-game warm-ups. The exchange escalated, leading to Merzel ejecting Sale from the game before it officially began.
This ejection is particularly notable as it occurred prior to the game's start, a rare occurrence in Major League Baseball. Sale, known for his competitive nature, has had previous incidents involving disputes with umpires, including a notable ejection in 2015 during his tenure with the Chicago White Sox.
The Braves went on to win Sunday's game 2-1, with the pitching staff stepping up in Sale's absence. The team has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident. Fans and analysts alike are awaiting further comments from both Sale and the Braves' management.