Atlanta Braves star pitcher Chris Sale delivered another outstanding performance Wednesday night, earning his 11th win as the Braves defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-0. This win not only puts Sale at the top of the National League (NL) but also ties him for the most wins in the majors alongside Kansas City Royals ace Seth Lugo.
Given the numerous injuries Sale has faced throughout his career, particularly with the Boston Red Sox, achieving 11 wins by this point in the season is remarkable. Sale even humorously acknowledged this milestone, asking the media, “Is that more wins than I’ve gotten in the last five years combined?” after the game, as reported by ESPN.
While it’s not more than his total wins over the past five years, it does match his combined wins from the last three seasons and technically four, considering he missed the 2020 season due to Tommy John surgery. Impressively, this is the most wins he’s had in a season since 2018 with the Red Sox when he finished with 12. Assuming he remains injury-free, he is on track to surpass that number, with plenty of the season left to play.
Sale discusses the honor of representing the Braves as the starting pitcher in the All-Star game.
Alongside his 11-3 record, Sale boasts a 2.71 ERA (eighth in the majors), 127 strikeouts (fourth in the majors), and a 0.91 WHIP (tied for first in the majors). These stats make him a strong All-Star candidate, though Sale emphasized he doesn’t want to get distracted.
“We’ll cross that bridge if it gets here,” Sale said about potentially being the National League’s starting pitcher. “I would appreciate it, but again, we’ve got games to play. I don’t want to be distracted.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker is thrilled with Sale’s performance and the possibility of him starting the All-Star game. Atlanta took a risk on Sale, hoping he could rebound from his injury-plagued stint in Boston, and it’s paid off.
“It’s awesome; I’m happy for him,” Snitker said about Sale’s season. “It’s been fun watching him compete and how he goes about it. He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever been around.”
Sale also mentioned that having other Braves stars join him at the All-Star game would be “fun,” citing impressive seasons from teammates like Reynaldo Lopez, Max Fried, and Marcell Ozuna.
In his recent outing against the Giants, Sale pitched six innings, striking out nine, walking two, allowing three hits, and one earned run. He praised the run support and bullpen contributions that have aided his success.
“No, it’s good. It’s great,” Sale said. “I appreciate it. Our defense has been near perfect, and the bullpen closed the game in the seventh inning. All those things help a lot, and I definitely appreciate that.”
Despite injuries in their pitching department, the Braves have managed well. Snitker noted the situation is becoming “manageable now” with the return of key players.
Sale also acknowledged the support from the Braves’ dynamic offense, including players like Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies. He highlighted the impact of 24-year-old outfielder Jared Kelenic, who has excelled since being placed in the leadoff spot.
“That guy’s been a sparkplug,” Sale said about Kelenic. “What he’s been able to do since he started playing every day and getting his reps, he took off. You put him in that leadoff spot, and I can’t imagine there are too many guys who have done better than him.”
The Braves, currently holding a 47-37 record, are second in the NL East behind the Phillies. They aim to win the series against the Giants in their next game Thursday night.
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