Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale delivered a career-defining performance on Thursday, throwing a complete-game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers and recording his first pitch of 100.1 mph since 2018.
Chris Sale Throws First Complete Game Since 2019, Hits 100.1 mph for First Time Since 2018
Sale’s 100.1 mph fastball to Shohei Ohtani in the third inning marked the first time he had thrown a pitch at that velocity since July 6, 2018, according to Statcast. The pitch, which Ohtani fouled, was one of two 100-plus-mph deliveries in the game, the other being a 100.0 mph heater. This marked just the 15th time in Sale’s career that he has thrown a pitch at 100 mph or higher, per MLB.com.
Personal Motivation and Manager’s Praise Highlight Dominant Performance
Sale’s performance was fueled by personal tragedy. He learned of the death of Ashley Foss, a 42-year-old family friend and financial advisor who had managed his finances for decades, before the game. She was a huge Braves fan,
Sale said. She watched all these games. It felt weird out there, because I felt like I had a little something else helping me tonight.
Braves manager Walt Weiss described Sale as “on a mission” from the first pitch. He was attacking from the first pitch,
Weiss said. You could see it. The look in his eye is always pretty good, but it was even a little bit different tonight.
Sale’s determination was evident in his pitch count: he threw 109 pitches over nine innings, including 80 strikes, and exited after 97 pitches in the eighth inning with a 1-0 lead. “This is mine,” he told the dugout before finishing the game, according to Yahoo Sports.
Historic Context: Sale’s First Shutout Since 2019 and Sixth to Achieve 10+ Strikeouts at Age 37+
The shutout was Sale’s first since June 5, 2019, when he helped the Red Sox blank the Royals. It also made him the sixth pitcher since 1900 at age 37 or older to record 10+ strikeouts and no walks in a shutout, per MLB.com.
Sale’s 11 strikeouts tied a season-high and extended his streak of double-digit strikeout games to four this year. Catcher Drake Baldwin, who led off the game with a home run, called it one of the top two pitching performances I’ve seen during my time in the big leagues,
according to MLB.com.
Dodgers Struggle Against Sale’s Dominance, Face Playoff Implications
Sale’s shutout also highlighted the challenges of facing elite pitchers like him, with Roberts acknowledging, You can’t hang your hat on that kind of stuff.
Statistical Impact: Sale Ranks Among MLB’s Best, Braves’ Playoff Prospects Improve
Sale’s outing elevated his standing among the league’s elite. With a 2.06 ERA, he ranks second among qualified starters, trailing only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (1.73). The Braves, who have now won four consecutive games, are 79-55 on the season and remain in the race for the NL’s second-best record.
For Sale, the performance reaffirmed his status as one of baseball’s most resilient pitchers. I pride myself on going out there and giving my team a chance to win,
he said. The Braves, meanwhile, have positioned themselves as a threat in the NL playoff race, with Sale’s dominance providing a critical boost in their pursuit of a postseason berth.
