Left-hander Chris Sale is not on the Atlanta Braves' roster for their National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, it was announced Tuesday.

Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, who made Atlanta's roster for the best-of-three series along with Bryce Elder, was chosen as the starter for Game 1 on Tuesday in San Diego (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Sale, a contender for the NL Cy Young Award, was a late scratch Monday for Game 2 of Atlanta's doubleheader against the New York Mets due to back spasms, with the Braves needing a win to advance to the playoffs.