Chris Sale is having a monster season where everything seems to be clicking. It’s helping him secure a spot among the MLB elite. The Atlanta Braves ace recently made history by surpassing the legendary Sandy Koufax on the all-time strikeout list.
He is officially moving into the top 50 overall and among the top 20 left-handed pitchers. If you’re passing a name like Koufax, you’re doing something special, especially when you’re an electrifying lefty like Sale.
Chris Sale moves into the Top 50 in strikeouts in MLB history❗️ pic.twitter.com/rZTABkmwSX
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 8, 2024
But Sale wasn’t done making history that day. He reached another milestone during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays, racking up his 2,400th career strikeout. Only 50 pitchers in MLB history have hit that mark, putting him in a very exclusive club. It’s a day Braves fans—and Sale himself—won’t forget anytime soon.
There are only three active pitchers with more strikeouts than Sale: Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, who both sit at 3,405, and Clayton Kershaw, close to joining the 3,000 club at 2,968. But here’s where things get even more impressive—Sale has accumulated his strikeouts in just 1,945 innings.
By comparison, Koufax needed 2,324 innings to rack up his career strikeouts. If Sale keeps up his current pace, by the time he reaches the same number of innings, he could be looking at roughly 2,867 strikeouts. That kind of dominance puts you on a fast track to greatness.
Of course, injuries have plagued Sale over the past few seasons. With injuries in the past, it makes you wonder how many strikeouts he would have if he had stayed healthy. Still, being able to join the top tier 3,000 strike club is very much in play. Even with the hurdles he has faced over the years, he simply is just that good.
In addition to the strikeouts, Sale’s career stats are very solid with a 3.04 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He’s been consistent, dominant, and even a bit underrated. Sale spent his prime years with the Chicago White Sox, then faced some ups and downs with the Boston Red Sox. But days like this remind everyone just how great he is.
With a Cy Young Award potentially on the way for this season, the Hall of Fame conversation will only heat up for Sale. If he keeps hitting milestones at this rate, we may be looking at a career leading to Cooperstown. Chris Sale still has chapters left in his career, and it does not seem like he is ready to slow down.
