If you were wondering whether Chris Sale had anything left in the tank, Tuesday night’s Atlanta Braves win gave you your answer. And it came with heat, history, and a healthy dose of humility. After all, Sale himself summed it up best: “I tried not to suck.”
Another Gem With For Braves, Another Step Forward
Sale’s outing against the Reds wasn’t just solid—it was vintage. He pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, five hits, two walks, and a 10-strikeout masterpiece.
He had everything working—command, velocity, and deception—and he made Cincinnati’s lineup look overmatched. Again. For a guy who was fighting to stay healthy just a couple of years ago, this stretch isn’t just impressive. It’s career-defining.
300 Starts, 2,000 Innings, and a Whole Lot of K’s
Let’s talk milestones—because Sale was stacking them like a champ.
- 300th career start? Check. Only 10 other active pitchers have done it.
- 2,000 career innings pitched? Hit that in the seventh. Only Verlander, Scherzer, Kershaw, and Morton have more among active arms.
- 10+ strikeouts for the 89th time? That puts him at 8th-most in MLB history. Only names like Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, and Sandy Koufax are ahead of him, and you don’t get more elite company than that.
Braves manager Brian Snitker put it best: “It seems like we’re throwing every ball out because he’s surpassing somebody or reaching another milestone.” Sale isn’t just back—he’s building a legacy in real time.
A Nod to the Journey
Sale didn’t gloat after the game. That’s not his style. But he did reflect.
“I appreciate those things,” he said. “I don’t want to sit up here and talk about myself a lot, but… some of it was easy. Some of it was really not.” After years of injuries, shutdowns, and comebacks, this moment clearly mattered.
And it should. Not long ago, Sale had just 11 starts in three seasons. Now? He’s a reigning Cy Young winner, a milestone machine, and just 30 strikeouts away from 2,500 for his career—a number only 39 pitchers in history have hit.
A Legend in the Making (Again)
Sale’s ERA over his last four starts? 1.95. He’s not just surviving—he’s dominating. He’s turning back the clock and making the case that, even in the twilight of his career, he’s still one of the best of his generation.
So here’s to the lefty who just keeps fighting. If Chris Sale’s goal is to “not suck,” then so far in 2025? Mission very much accomplished.
