Coming off a season-high strikeout performance against the Chicago White Sox, Chris Sale looks as dominant as ever. Against his former team, Sale struck out 11 batters, committing only one mistake, a solo home run to Luis Robert Jr. in a 1–0 loss. Coming into spring training, Sale said that this has been his first normal offseason since the 2018 season. He helped lead the Boston Red Sox to a World Series and earned his seventh consecutive Cy Young Award finish. As many are aware, health and Chris Sale have not been a match made in heaven. After a six-year, $160 million contract extension from the Red Sox, Sale pitched a combined 151 innings from 2019 to 2023. 102 2/3 of those innings coming in the 2023 season, where he posted his second-worst career ERA (4.30).
Chris Sale Looking Dominant in Resurgent 2024 Season
New Opportunities
Changes were needed not only for Sale but also for the Red Sox. Alex Anthopoulos saw an opportunity. A trade sending Atlanta’s former number seven prospect Vaughn Grissom in exchange for Sale was executed. Anthopoulos found a way to bolster the starting rotation, adding a fiery competitor to help with a playoff run. This trade seemed to have come out of nowhere, as many teams were not aware Sale was even available. When arriving in North Port, Florida, Sale was vocal about his excitement for a new opportunity.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity. It’s been a while since I’ve had the whole package of finishing healthy, having a normal offseason, and coming into spring training healthy. So, all those things and being a little bit older and slightly smarter and with the staff here and the people I’m surrounded by, it’s going to give me the best opportunity I’ve had in a long time.”
Masters at work 🙌#BravesST pic.twitter.com/5mw52m91oB
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 17, 2024
Anthopoulos being able to work with the Red Sox means Sale’s 2024 salary will be paid by Boston. He will also be able to extend Sale with a two-year, $38 million extension starting in the 2025 season.
Resurgence
Sale has already shown that he is tapping into his old self so far this season. He is tied with Ranger Suárez and Seth Lugo for the most wins this season. Sale’s numbers across the board are charting into Cy Young territory once again, and Braves fans couldn’t be happier. This season they have already lost Spencer Strider and with the uncertainty in the fifth spot in the starting rotation, the offseason trade has become even more pivotal. Sale’s ERA of 2.79 ranks 13th in all of MLB, pairing with his teammate and fellow Cy Young contender Reynaldo López who holds the ERA crown at 1.70. His WHIP of 0.918 is third in all of baseball. Sale also has pitched the 13th most innings this season at 93 2/3 innings. This kind of dominance is what the 35-year-old has been chasing for many seasons now.
With the All-Star break roughly two weeks away, Sale will be looking to accomplish something he hasn’t done since his 2018 campaign. That is to earn his eighth appearance as an All-Star in Arlington, Texas, on July 16. He will be trying to earn a spot with every team he has been on.
Chris Sale nearly had the Sword of the Year.
[He didn’t go, but, come on, just call it. 😆] pic.twitter.com/1vH0WLmh23
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 7, 2024
Potential Playoff Impact
Atlanta traded for Sale to help the starting rotation but also to have an impact in the postseason, particularly against some of the power-hitting lefty lineups like the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Braves being eliminated by the Phillies in the past two postseasons, a different approach is needed. Given the health of the rotation going into the series and the lack of left-handed options, Atlanta believes Sale could be a difference-maker. Sale is second all-time in strikeouts per nine, with the goal of keeping the ball out of the air. Home runs have hurt the Braves these past two postseasons, and they believe Sale could push Atlanta over the hump.
Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
