With another gem, Sale now a candidate to start ASG

ATLANTA -- Chris Sale seems destined to gain an All-Star selection. The only question seems to be, could the rejuvenated Braves hurler serve as the National League’s starting pitcher at this year’s Midsummer Classic?

Sale, who started three straight All-Star Games for the American League in 2016 with the White Sox and 2017-18 with the Red Sox, continued to construct one of this year’s top stories as he helped the Braves claim a 3-1 win over the Giants on Wednesday night at Truist Park. The southpaw has tallied an MLB-high 11 wins (tied with the Royals’ Seth Lugo) while regaining the elite status he had before spending most of the past four seasons on the injured list.

“I remember seeing Sale when he was the best,” Braves outfielder Adam Duvall said. “It’s fun to see him back at that level. He’s a grinder. He’s an awesome guy to have on your team, a guy you root for. I sure hope he [starts the All-Star Game]. That would be really cool.”

Sale could make two more starts before the All-Star break. In fact, he will likely start on either July 13 or 14 in San Diego. If so, he likely wouldn’t be available to pitch in the July 16 Midsummer Classic. But the fact that he is worthy to be in the conversation is significant.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Sale said. “I’ve got a team already and I’m focused on that. If or when that happens, we can talk about it. But for now, we’re going to keep the train on the tracks.”

Austin Riley scored on Duvall’s RBI double in the second inning and then capped his two-hit performance with a decisive two-run double in the fifth. This was enough support for Sale, who tallied nine strikeouts and allowed just one run over six innings. He surrendered just three hits, the first of which was Curt Casali’s two-out single in the fifth.

Sale ranks third in the NL with the 2.71 ERA he has produced through 16 starts (99 2/3 innings). He has exceeded the expectations that surrounded him when the Braves were able to acquire him from the Red Sox for Vaughn Grissom in December. This has become a ridiculously lopsided trade. But there was some risk associated with Sale, who totaled just 151 innings from 2020-2023.

“It’s just a good bounce-back year for him,” Braves reliever A.J. Minter said. “He’s just been lights out. He’s been the old vintage Sale for sure.”

Sale was healthy for the final six weeks of the 2023 season and for the first time since 2019, he had a healthy offseason. Consequently, he is stronger than he’s been in past years and he’s pitching like he did when he finished among the top six in AL Cy Young Award balloting seven straight years from 2012-18.

Here is where Sale ranks among NL pitchers in these categories:

Wins (11) -- 1st
WHIP (0.91) -- 1st
Strikeouts/Walks (6.68) -- 1st
Strikeout Pct. (32.7) -- 2nd, trailing Tyler Glasnow (33.9)
ERA (2.71) -- 3rd, trailing just Ranger Suárez (2.27) and Cristopher Sánchez (2.41)
Strikeouts (127) -- 3rd, trailing Glasnow (136) and Dylan Cease (130)

Given what he experienced over the past few years, would this All-Star selection mean more than the previous seven he received from 2012-18?

“I would appreciate it, but again, we have baseball to play and I don’t want to get distracted by all that kind of stuff,” Sale said.

Sale understandably doesn’t want to derail what has the makings to be a very special season. The 35-year-old hurler has now tallied nine-plus strikeouts while allowing one run or fewer over at least six innings five times. The only pitcher with more such games is Glasnow.

“It’s been fun to watch him compete and pitch,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I don’t know that he could be much better. He’s been strong all year. He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever been around.”

Sale’s competitive nature allowed him to remain focused as he recovered from Tommy John surgery and then dealt with multiple broken bones over the past few years. He was determined to get back to where was, back when there was an annual reason to argue he deserves to start the All-Star Game.

“He goes out there every night and leaves it all out there,” Duvall said. “It’s very apparent when you’re playing behind him. That’s cool to see.”