After a stretch of baseball that felt like the team simply was not clicking, the Atlanta Braves finally got the jolt they needed Thursday night in Philadelphia—and it came courtesy of the left arm of a future Hall of Famer. Chris Sale, the 2024 Cy Young winner, didn’t just stop the bleeding. He carved up and silenced batters, and rewrote the record books at the same time.
Vintage Sale: Six Shutout Frames and a Milestone
In the nightcap of a tough doubleheader, Sale came out looking like a man on a mission—and the Phillies paid the price. He tossed six shutout innings, allowing only two hits and three walks, while racking up eight strikeouts. That last one put his name in the history books.
With his eighth punchout to close out the sixth, Sale reached 2,500 career strikeouts, becoming just the 38th pitcher in the modern era to hit that mark. That’s elite company. But what’s even more astonishing? No one has gotten there faster. Sale needed just 2,026 innings—blowing past legends like Tom Glavine and Warren Spahn, who needed twice as many innings to get to similar totals.
Climbing the Ladder, One Whiff at a Time
Sale’s strikeout march is far from over. He passed Jon Lester for 40th on the all-time list in his previous start. With just 100 more K’s—a number well within reach this season if he stays healthy—Sale could leapfrog 10 more pitchers.
Two big Braves names sit just ahead of him: Warren Spahn (2,583) and Tom Glavine (2,607). The way Sale is pitching right now, both are squarely in his sights. And yes, it’s poetic that a modern Braves ace is chasing two of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Sale’s 2024 Atlanta Braves Season
Since the start of 2024, Sale has been nothing short of spectacular. He has a 20-6 record, 2.63 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, and now 303 strikeouts in just over 239 innings with Atlanta. It’s easy to forget just how dominant Sale can be when he’s healthy, but 2024 has been a loud, clear reminder.
And his performance Thursday night was the road flare for a Braves team that’s been spinning its tires the last few weeks. The Braves were leading 8-0 when Sale exited in the seventh, en route to snapping a brutal stretch and improving to 26-29.
No Red Sox Rematch, But Still Making Headlines
Atlanta now heads home for a weekend series against Sale’s former team, the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, the baseball gods didn’t line up the rotation for a Sale vs. Boston showdown. But if his last appearance against them was any indication—seven innings, one run, eight strikeouts at Fenway Park on May 16—he’s got nothing left to prove to that fan base.
For the record, Sale registered 945 of his career strikeouts with Boston and 1,244 with the White Sox. Atlanta’s already gotten 303 and counting.
The Braves Needed a Spark—Chris Sale Delivered
Thursday night wasn’t just about a win. It wasn’t just about stopping a skid or salvaging a series. It was about a reminder that even in a turbulent season, even when things feel off-kilter, the Braves still have firepower—and in Chris Sale, they still have dominance as he continues hitting more and more milestones this season.
