The Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale was a late scratch for Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets due to back spasms, with the Braves needing a win to advance to the playoffs.

Right-handed reliever Grant Holmes, who is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA this season, got the start in place of Sale. Sale, the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, was 18-3 this season with a 2.38 ERA.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos described Sale’s back spasms as a “daily thing” when he spoke to the media after Game 1 of the doubleheader Monday. That doesn’t rule out Sale starting in a wild-card series game, which could start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres if the Braves win Game 2 of the doubleheader.

To avoid risking further injuries, it was decided this afternoon not to start Sale. Sale’s fastball velocity dropped in his last regular start, against Cincinnati on September 19. He drove an average of 150 km/h at that start, after an average of 150.9 km/h in the start before, on September 14.

The Braves had to win one of two games on Monday to earn a wild card spot. In Game 1, they started Spencer Schwellenbach, who pitched a gem until the eighth inning, when the Braves blew a three-run lead and then a one-run lead in the ninth, losing the game to the Mets.

A Braves win in Game 2 on Monday would have them facing the Padres on Tuesday, while a loss would give the No. 6 seed to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the No. 5 seed to the Mets, who would face the Padres.