Chris Sale is leading the way for the Atlanta Braves.
“Just as we weren’t concerned when things weren’t going well, we won’t sit here and have a party when they are. “You just have to stay consistent, stay on the job, and continue to pull your weight,” Sale told The Athletic.
Sale defeated the Yankees on Friday, allowing one run on one hit over five innings. The team defeated New York 8-1. It was the Yankees’ sixth loss in their last six games.
Sale’s performance in Atlanta this season
Sale has had many standout performances for the Braves this season. He has 10 wins this year and only two losses. The pitcher is striking out batters at a rapid pace, with 107 this season. He had eight on Friday against the Yankees, earning him accolades from Yankees slugger Juan Soto.
Sale is in his debut season with the Braves. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox during the summer. Sale has a WHIP of only.93 this season. He also has a 2.91 ERA, which is a significant improvement over his performance in Boston last season. The veteran pitcher appears to have found new life with the Braves. He also gives a lot of leadership in the clubhouse.
The pitcher is a seven-time All-Star. He won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and is the MLB’s fastest pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts. Sale completed this incredible feat across 1,626 innings. In addition, he led the American League in strikeouts in both 2015 and 2017. Sale has formerly pitched for the Braves, Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox.
Atlanta welcomes additional help in their rotation. The Braves are 42-31 on the season, ranking second in the National League East division. The team is six games behind the Phillies. The Braves have won four in a row entering Saturday’s games. Sale’s revival has undoubtedly contributed significantly to the team’s success. The 35-year-old veteran underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and missed the full season. He’s pitching like if he were 25 again.
“I got it done. It worked well tonight,” Sale remarked after defeating the Yankees on Friday, according to the New York Post. “I’ve had a lot of experience with these individuals and have seen what they’re capable of. I have too much respect for the game and those guys to say anything other than we battled, and it went my way tonight.”
Atlanta hopes things keep going his way. Meanwhile, the Braves will face the Yankees on Saturday, hoping to win again. The game starts at 7:15 Eastern. Braves supporters are surely excited to see where Sale can take them this season.
