Chris Sale's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale has looked sharp through two starts with his new team this spring. The left-hander has struck out nine batters with only three hits allowed in 5 2/3 innings of work. It's a small sample size but it's great to see Sale looking like himself again. The seven-time All-Star was traded to Atlanta from the Boston Red Sox in December. Sale has struggled to stay healthy over the last few seasons. He made 20 starts with the Red Sox last season but didn't look like himself. Fantasy managers shouldn't get too eager but possibly the old Sale is back with his new team.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale made a great first impression with his new team in Tuesday's 13-4 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates. The 34-year-old pitched two scoreless innings with no hits or walks and four strikeouts. His velocity was up over the outing, with his fastball touching 97.1 MPH. This is encouraging for fantasy managers, as injuries have prevented Sale from turning in a strong, complete season for some time. Sale managed 20 starts and 102 2/3 innings pitched with the Red Sox last season, posting a 4.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 29.4% strikeout rate. The signs are still there of a fantasy contributor, and a strong spring would help convince fantasy managers further.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale told reporters on Saturday that this is his first offseason since 2019 that he hasn't had limitations. The veteran southpaw has dealt with a ton of injuries over the last four seasons, including Tommy John surgery in 2020 and a nagging shoulder issue in 2023. As a result, he's pitched just 151 total innings since 2019. It's very encouraging to hear he hasn't had any type of injury or setback so far this offseason. He looked sharp in spurts of the 2023 season with Boston, including a strong finish to the season in which he allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last nine starts. That was enough for the Braves to give Sale a two-year, $38 million extension after trading for him in late December. Sale, who runs 35 on March 30, will always carry injury risk but he can still be effective when healthy.

The Atlanta Braves signed veteran left-hander Chris Sale to a two-year, $38 million deal on Thursday that includes an $18 million club option for 2026. The move comes five days after they acquired Sale from the Boston Red Sox. The 34-year-old southpaw had one year plus a 2025 option left on his previous contract. He will make $16 million this year and $22 million in 2025. Under the old contract, Sale would have made $27.5 million this year, with the Braves paying only $500,000 now plus $10 million deferred to 2039, and the Red Sox covering $17 million as part of the trade that sent infielder Vaughn Grissom to Boston. The seven-time All-Star is a health question mark, throwing only 151 innings over 31 starts since 2019, but he still has plenty of strikeout upside when he's on the mound and the Braves will be hoping he can avoid the injury bug after going over 100 innings in 2023 for the first time since 2019.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale's workload will closely be monitored in his first year with Atlanta after going just over 100 innings in 2023 with the Boston Red Sox due to a scapula injury, but the Braves plan on having Sale in their starting rotation to begin the year. They don't think they need to delay Sale's debut a month or two in order to maximize what he might be able to provide during the playoffs. The 34-year-old southpaw's dominance has ended in recent seasons due to injuries. He had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and battled a rib fracture and right-wrist fracture in 2022. Sale had a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts this past season but finished the year strong with eight earned runs allowed in five starts in September. As he's been the past few seasons, Sale will be a risk/reward fantasy starter in 2024 in his new digs.