Chris Sale is turning heads early in spring training with the Atlanta Braves. But it is not what he does now that matters to Braves fans and Braves management, it is what he is does come October that will truly count. Will he be available start in the postseason? That is the big question mark.

While the early returns on Sale starting on the mound have been outstanding – nine strikeouts and zero runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings – his injury history still gives cause to pause. But so far, Sale is not showing any lingering effects from past injury issues.

“I want to be what I’m supposed to be for this team and to make all that work in the offseason worth it,” Sale said in an interview on mlb.com.

Sale’s best ability may be his availability for the Braves over the course of the season, but most significantly during the stretch run, meaning games in September and October.

When healthy, Sale is still one of the top lefties in the sport. He won 99 games from 2012-2018 and has tallied a 3.10 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over an impressive 13-year career. He’s finished top five in the American League Cy Young Award voting six times and was a top 10 finisher in the Most Valuable Player Award voting in 2017 when he posted a 17-8 mark with a 2.90 ERA.

But Sale is also prone to not finishing a full season on the field. He started just 31 games and pitched a combined 151 innings the last three years; seasons that were more defined by stints on the injured list than quality starts he made. Sale has dealt with a torn ulnar collateral ligament; right rib stress fracture; fractured left pinkie; and broken right wrist.

But he made 20 starts last year, the most since 2019. That was an encouraging sign. So is the early success during spring training. But his success this season will be more defined by his availability when the games count the most.

The fact that the superb southpaw is still wheelin’ and dealin’ come fall will be a victory for the Braves who should be on the verge of another National League East Division title. The cost to obtain Sale in the offseason was high, trading away young prospect Vaughn Grissom. But the price will be worth it if it translates to at least 25 starts and a deep postseason run.

After all, isn’t that why the Braves made the trade to begin with?