Fastball

Resurgent Chris Sale Peppering Atlanta Braves Record Books in Dominant First Half

Chris Sale, who has fought to stay healthy for the last few seasons, has found himself again with the Atlanta Braves. As a result of a sterling first half of the season, Sale was named an All-Star and is all over the team history books.

Brady Farkas

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale throws in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 9.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale throws in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 9. / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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The Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to head into the All-Star break with some momentum.

The Braves are currently 53-42 on the year and they are in second place in the National League East. The Padres are now 50-49 on the season and continue to put themselves in position for a National League wild card berth.

Veteran left-hander Chris Sale continued his awesome first half of the season with a win on Sunday, going 5.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits. He struck out four in moving to 13-3 on the season with a 2.70 ERA.

Sale, who was traded to the Braves this past offseason, has been a Godsend for Atlanta, who is trying to overcome the loss of ace of Spencer Strider. Sale was injured for most of 2020-2023 with the Boston Red Sox but now healthy, he's back to looking like the Cy Young candidate that he was for so many years. He was named an All-Star this season as well, but won't be pitching in the game.

His season has also put him all over the Braves history books as well, according to @StatsCentre:

(Related) Fewest games from the start of a season for a pitcher to reach 140 strikeouts - @Braves franchise history:
16- Spence Strider (2023)
17- Smoltz (1996)
18- Sale (2024 via his 4th of 4 Ks on Sunday vs SDP)
19- Javier Vazquez (2009)
20- Smoltz (1995)
21- Greg Maddux (1995)

The Braves will be off until Friday for the All-Star break. They'll come back with a weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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