Braves clinch; Chris Sale unlikely to start Game 1 vs. Padres - ESPN

A baseball day for the history books ended as many expected — with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets splitting a makeup-game doubleheader to both qualify for the playoffs — but the drama on the field and late-breaking news off of it made for what Braves manager Brian Snitker called a «rollercoaster.»

The Mets won a dramatic Game 1 8-7 with some wild swings and meltdowns by both teams' closers. The Braves had a 3-0 lead, the Mets struck back with a 6-run top of the eighth inning, the Braves retook the lead 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth, then the Mets took the lead for good when Francisco Lindor hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth with a nonchalant trot around the bases.

In the 40 minutes between games one and two, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters that Braves ace Chris Sale was scratched from his scheduled start in Game 2 due to back spasms. Sale walked into Snitker's office to tell him the bad news about an hour before Game 1 started.

After winning Monday's nightcap, Braves manager Brian Snitker said he's not optimistic they'll have the NL pitching Triple Crown winner for the next round vs. the San Diego Padres. Game 1 begins Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET,

«I don't think so. No. No,» Snitker said when asked if Sale would be available vs. the Padres.

Sale's replacement, and ultimately the Game 2 hero for the Braves, was Grant Holmes (4 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts), a 2014 first round pick who made his big league debut this season after 10 seasons in the minor leagues. Holmes was limited to 53 pitches on Monday after he pitched 1⅔ innings vs. the Royals on Sunday.

«If I would've known [Sale would be scratched] last night, I wouldn't have pitched Grant last night,» Snitker said after the