Chris Sale's 2.16 ERA Earns Cy Young Finalist Spot
The 37-year-old left-hander joins Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez as candidates for the National League's top pitching honor.
By James Brooks ·
Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale has secured a place among the finalists for the National League Cy Young Award. MLB Network announced the selection on Tuesday, November 3. Sale stands as the only pitcher from the Braves on the list.
He will compete against Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski and Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sánchez. The award ceremony is scheduled for November 11. Fans and analysts have focused on Sale's late-career production this season.
The 37-year-old posted a 2.16 earned run average and struck out 200 batters. He pitched 162.2 innings during the regular season. His performance helped lead the Braves to the fifth-best team ERA in baseball at 3.63.
Sale served as the stable anchor for a rotation that dealt with injuries. The team finished with 94 wins and captured the NL East title. His presence stabilized the group alongside Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, and Tyler Mahle.
A defining moment for Sale came on August 27 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw a complete-game shutout while striking out 11 batters. That performance signaled his continued dominance after earlier career injuries limited his output between 2020 and 2023.
Sale previously won the Cy Young Award in 2024. He led the league with 18 wins that year. He signed a one-year, $27 million contract extension in February. The deal includes a club option for $30 million in 2028.
Misiorowski is currently the favorite to win the award. He is 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 174 two-thirds innings across 30 starts. Braves manager Walt Weiss is also a finalist for NL Manager of the Year. That award will be announced on November 10.
