200 strikeouts: Chris Sale returns to Cy Young conversation
The 37-year-old Braves left-hander posted a 2.16 ERA in his second year with Atlanta, joining two aces as a finalist for the National League honor.
By Noor Rossi ·
Chris Sale stood on the mound at Truist Park and threw a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 27. He struck out 11 batters in that game, a performance that reminded the baseball world that the 37-year-old left-hander is still an elite pitcher. That outing helped secure his position as a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award, according to an announcement from MLB Network on Tuesday.
Sale joins two other aces on the ballot. Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers and Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies are the only other pitchers in the running. The award will be voted on and announced on Nov. 11.
The veteran’s statistics from the 2026 season provide the backbone of his case. Sale recorded 200 strikeouts in 162.2 innings while maintaining a 2.16 earned run average. His performance anchored the Atlanta Braves pitching staff, which finished with the fifth-best team ERA in all of baseball at 3.63.
Sale’s presence stabilized a rotation that dealt with injuries during a 94-win campaign. He worked alongside Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, and Tyler Mahle to help the Braves win the National League East title. The team’s success under manager Walt Weiss marks their first division crown since 2023.
This marks Sale’s second consecutive year on the Cy Young ballot. He won the award in 2024 after leading Major League Baseball with 18 wins and posting a 2.38 ERA. His path to that 2024 victory was interrupted by a stretch of injuries from 2020 to 2023 that limited him to just 151 total innings. His dominant two years in Atlanta have renewed discussion about his eligibility for the Hall of Fame.
Misiorowski enters the voting as the statistical favorite. The Brewers starter is 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts over 174 and two-thirds innings in 30 starts. Sale signed a one-year contract extension with Atlanta in February for $27 million, which includes a club option for $30 million in 2028.
Weiss, who replaced Brian Snitker as manager, is also on the ballot for the NL Manager of the Year award. That decision is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Source: WSMV-TV
