By Woodrow Carroll
Although his career may still have a number of years to run, and at this time he is 36, Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale has hit a bump in the road just when 2025 started to look very promising after a slow start.
June 18, Sale pitched 8.2 innings of scoreless baseball in the Braves 5-0 victory over the New York Mets. The victory raised hopes among the Atlanta faithful that Sale could be on his way to a repeat of last season when he ended 18-3 and captured the National League Cy Young Award. And with the Braves struggling in the standings, a repeat of last season’s Sale might well have moved Atlanta back into playoff contention. Then came Sunday’s news that Sale had been placed on the 15-day injured list with a fractured left rib cage.
After last Sunday’s action, Atlanta a member of the National League East, was 35-41 and seven games out in the NL Wild Card picture. A healthy Sale was what the Braves need. And, now no Sale for the better part of a month!
When you look at the 36-year old Sale’s history, you might wonder if he will make it to the Hall of Fame. And, let’s be honest, the lanky southpaw has recorded some impressive stats since breaking in with the Chicago White Sox back in 2010.
Sale’s first two seasons with the White Sox found him being called upon for relief duty. Then, beginning in 2013, Sale found himself as a starting pitcher for the Pale Hose. Starting pitching suited Sale just fine and beginning in 2013 Sale made the American League All-Star squad seven straight seasons.
In seven seasons with the White Sox before being traded to the Boston Red Sox, Sale went 74-50. Wouldn’t the White Sox love to have a pitcher with positive stats such as Sale’s today?
Sale’s first two campaigns with Boston were typical of what to expect from him. With Boston, Sale was 17-8 in 2017 and he followed that with a 12-4 showing in 2018. A combined 29-12 run those first two years in Boston. And, in the process, Sale did his part for the World Champion Red Sox in 2018.
After two solid seasons with the Red Sox, injury problems cropped up for Sale. Sale did not pitch at all in 2020 and was very limited in the years between 2019-2023. Sale recorded a total of 17 victories in a period of five seasons and as you might imagine pretty much fell off the baseball radar.
Resurrection! Signed by Atlanta before the start of the 2024 campaign after a good many baseball insiders had written him off -not seeing significant action will do that-Sale rebounded with what many viewed as his career best year by going 18-3.
Awards and recognition came Sale’s way a year ago. For the first time since 2018, Sale was selected to play in the All-Star Game. This time as a National Leaguer. Thus, Sale could claim to have made it to the All-Star Game as both an American League and National League representative.
Free agency has made moving about in the Majors much easier in recent seasons for sure. Still, being selected to play in the All-Star Game while with the White Sox. Red Sox and Braves tells us a good deal about his ability.
Sale’s lifetime record in the Major Leagues is 143-87 (.622). With the White Sox, Sale was 74-50. During his six seasons with Boston, Sale went 46-30. After a year and a half with Atlanta, Sale is 23-7.
In a way, Sale is like Dizzy Dean. Dean’s time in the Major Leagues was hampered by injury. Lifetime, Dean was 150-83 in a career spent mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1934, Dean won 30 games and is the last National League pitcher to reach that mark. Many questioned Dean’s selection to the Hall of Fame largely on his victory total. Still, Dean was selected in 1953. If Sale is to make it to the HOF good health and a few more victories would not hurt!