Chris Sale

Active

Atlanta Braves · Pitcher

Age 376' 6" · 180 lbsThrows Left

FBaseball Overview

At 37 years old, Sale remains a premier strikeout source and frontline starter for the Braves after winning the 2024 NL Cy Young and earning All-Star honors in both 2024 and 2025. His 2026 season showcases elite peripherals with a 2.10 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 90 innings, though the reduced workload raises durability concerns as he navigates age and potential injury management heading into his final years. The 109 strikeouts in limited action demonstrate his continued dominance on the mound, making him valuable in ERA, WHIP, and K categories for managers willing to accept win totals that depend heavily on run support. Sale's ceiling remains high given his pedigree, but the innings constraint and age-related decline risk mean he projects as a depth starter rather than a first-round anchor in most 2026 formats.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2010	Chicago White Sox	21	0	2	1	4	1.93	1.07	32	23.1	10
2011	Chicago White Sox	58	0	2	2	8	2.79	1.11	79	71.0	27
2012	Chicago White Sox	30	29	17	8	0	3.05	1.14	192	192.0	51
2013	Chicago White Sox	30	30	11	14	0	3.07	1.07	226	214.1	46
2014	Chicago White Sox	26	26	12	4	0	2.17	0.97	208	174.0	39
2015	Chicago White Sox	31	31	13	11	0	3.41	1.09	274	208.2	42
2016	Chicago White Sox	32	32	17	10	0	3.34	1.04	233	226.2	45
2017	Boston Red Sox	32	32	17	8	0	2.90	0.97	308	214.1	43
2018	Boston Red Sox	27	27	12	4	0	2.11	0.86	237	158.0	34
2019	Boston Red Sox	25	25	6	11	0	4.40	1.09	218	147.1	37
2021	Boston Red Sox	9	9	5	1	0	3.16	1.34	52	42.2	12
2022	Boston Red Sox	2	2	0	1	0	3.18	1.06	5	5.2	1
2023	Boston Red Sox	20	20	6	5	0	4.30	1.13	125	102.2	29
2024	Atlanta Braves	29	29	18	3	0	2.38	1.01	225	177.2	39
2025	Atlanta Braves	21	20	7	5	0	2.58	1.07	165	125.2	32
2026	Atlanta Braves	16	16	9	6	0	2.27	1.12	112	95.0	24
Career	Totals	409	328	154	94	12	2.98	1.05	2691	2179	511

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2010	2 teams▼	11	0	0	0	2.61	1.16	19	10.1	6
2014	Charlotte Knights	1	1	0	0	0.00	0.75	11	4.0	2
2021	3 teams▼	5	5	1	0	1.35	1.10	35	20	5
2022	2 teams▼	2	2	0	0	2.45	1.36	7	3.2	1
2023	Worcester Red Sox	2	2	0	0	0.00	0.95	10	6.1	2
2025	Gwinnett Stripers	3	3	0	1	2.53	1.22	11	10.2	3
Career	Totals	24	13	1	1	1.68	1.15	98	58.3	23

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo95.9 mph

Avg Spin2313 rpm

Whiff %29.2%

K %28.6%

BB %6.1%

Hard Hit %32.8%

Barrel %5.7%

xERA3.44

xBA Against0.234

xSLG Against0.348

BA Against0.230

SLG Against0.326

GB%45.7%

FB%23.1%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2010

Chicago White Sox

1.93

1.07

23.1

2011

Chicago White Sox

2.79

1.11

71.0

2012

Chicago White Sox

3.05

1.14

192

192.0

2013

Chicago White Sox

3.07

1.07

226

214.1

2014

Chicago White Sox

2.17

0.97

208

174.0

2015

Chicago White Sox

3.41

1.09

274

208.2

2016

Chicago White Sox

3.34

1.04

233

226.2

2017

Boston Red Sox

2.90

0.97

308

214.1

2018

Boston Red Sox

2.11

0.86

237

158.0

2019

Boston Red Sox

4.40

1.09

218

147.1

2021

Boston Red Sox

3.16

1.34

42.2

2022

Boston Red Sox

3.18

1.06

5.2

2023

Boston Red Sox

4.30

1.13

125

102.2

2024

Atlanta Braves

2.38

1.01

225

177.2

2025

Atlanta Braves

2.58

1.07

165

125.2

2026

Atlanta Braves

2.27

1.12

112

95.0

Career

Totals

409

328

154

2.98

1.05

2691

2179

511

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2010

2 teams▼

2.61

1.16

10.1

2014

Charlotte Knights

0.00

0.75

4.0

2021

3 teams▼

1.35

1.10

2022

2 teams▼

2.45

1.36

3.2

2023

Worcester Red Sox

0.00

0.95

6.1

2025

Gwinnett Stripers

2.53

1.22

10.2

Career

Totals

1.68

1.15

58.3