Stop talking about Chris Sale being a “former” star. The man is currently pitching like he did in his prime. On Thursday night, Sale didn’t just win a game; he dismantled the Dodgers to finish a three-game sweep. He looked nothing like the pitcher who struggled years ago. This was pure dominance.
The stats from the night tell the whole story. According to MLB.com, Sale racked up 11 strikeouts and allowed only five hits. He even threw a pitch at 100.1 mph. That was the first time he hit triple digits since 2018, per MLB.com. You can’t fake that kind of heat. He even used it to blow a 99.6 mph fastball past Shohei Ohtani during the fifth inning.
A historic strikeout run
Sale is doing things we haven’t seen in decades. He now sits seventh all-time with 95 games involving double-digit strikeouts, according to MLB.com. Only Sandy Koufax has more games at 97. That isn’t just good. That is legendary. He is chasing the greatest to ever do it.
The efficiency is terrifying for the rest of the league. Sale has allowed three runs or fewer in 23 of his last 24 starts. His ERA over the last 21 starts is a microscopic 1.83. If you are facing him, you are already losing.
Dodgers dominance at Truist Park
The Braves didn’t just win; they swept the two-time defending World Series champions – Tonight was Sale battles against the Dodgers Ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Drake Baldwin provided the only run with a leadoff home run. Sale made sure the Dodgers never even got on the scoreboard. According to MLB, his first shutout since June 5, 2019, occurred in Kansas City.
The ERA math is just as scary. His current 2.06 ERA is the second-best mark in all of MLB. He is effectively erasing any doubt about his Cy Young credentials.
