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Player Outlook
Chris Sale made 11 starts before being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left scapula. At the time, the southpaw had recorded a 4.58 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, with 71 strikeouts in 59 stanzas. However, a 3.63 xFIP suggested his ERA would drop had he stayed healthy. Sale missed just over 10 weeks, returning in mid-August. He made nine more starts, posting a 3.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in that span, fanning 54 in 43.3 innings. This time, Sale's 3.85 xFIP meshed with his actual ERA. For the season, Sale's 4.30 ERA was more than half a run over its estimators. This bodes well for a productive 2024, but with lingering durability concerns. Sale threw 102.2 innings last year, so he could handle in the 150 range, if he can stay healthy. His bloated ERA last year may keep his cost to a level where the reward outweighs the risk. The trick is to expect around 130 innings and plan accordingly. Anything more is icing on the cake.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 0.00 0.00
2023 232.511.6 102.7 6 5 125 29 4.30 1.13
2022 5.52.8 5.7 1 5 1 3.18 1.06
3y Avg. 119.512 50.3 4 2 61 14 3.93 1.19
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
96%
Roster
76%
Start
#28
SP Rank

Fantasy News

  • Braves' Chris Sale: Strikes out six Rays on Thursday

    Sale allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over 3.1 innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Tampa Bay. He struck out six. After a great beginning to his first spring with Atlanta, Sale has given up five runs over his last seven innings, albeit with a still-sharp 8:2 K:BB. The 34-year-old southpaw has been healthy though, which is the most important thing for a pitcher who hasn't thrown more than 102.2 innings in a season since 2019. Sale is on track for a mid-rotation spot to begin the year, and the reigning NL East champs can afford to go easy on his workload in 2024 given their pitching depth. Expecting more than 25 starts from Sale this season might be asking too much, but he should still be good for plenty of whiffs when he's on the mound after posting a 29.4 percent strikeout rate for Boston last year.
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  • Braves' Chris Sale: Gives up first runs of spring

    Sale allowed three runs on four hits and a walk over 3.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. He struck out two. The veteran lefty came into the game with a 0.00 ERA through his first two spring outings, but a Baltimore lineup that featured only two likely regulars in Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg stung Sale for three hits and a walk in the second inning, with a Coby Mayo double being the biggest blow. Sale still has an 11:3 K:BB through 8.1 Grapefruit League innings, and staying healthy remains his most important goal ahead of Opening Day.
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  • Braves' Chris Sale: Another strong spring outing

    Sale gave up three hits and two walks over 2.2 scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He struck out five while also throwing a wild pitch. That's nine Ks and a 0.00 ERA in 4.2 innings for Sale as he gets ready for his first campaign with Atlanta. The 34-year-old lefty hasn't made 25 starts in a season since 2019, and injuries have left his numbers somewhat volatile since he crossed over into his 30s, but he appears to be 100 percent healthy in camp and could be poised for a rebound. At the very least, he could take a run at double-digit wins for the first time since 2018 with one of the most potent offenses in MLB at his back.
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  • Braves' Chris Sale: Fans four in perfect outing

    Sale struck out four batters over two perfect innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. The veteran southpaw fired 16 of 25 pitches for strikes and overpowered a lineup that likely featured most of Pittsburgh's Opening Day starters, with his strikeout victims including Oneil Cruz and Yasmani Grandal. Sale said at the beginning of camp that he was coming off his healthiest offseason in years, offering some optimism that he can still deliver dominant results when he's on the mound, but the 34-year-old hasn't thrown at least 150 innings in a season since 2018.
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  • Braves' Chris Sale: Coming off healthy offseason

    Sale indicated Saturday that he'd been completely healthy this offseason for the first time since 2018, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. The 34-year-old left-hander has dealt with a litany of injuries in the years since, and his typical winter during that time involved rehabbing from his latest issue rather than focusing on the upcoming campaign. A clean start to 2024 doesn't guarantee that Sale will be able to take 30-plus turns in the rotation for Atlanta, of course, but it does offer some reason for optimism that he'll top the 102.2 innings he threw for Boston last year. Sale still flashes premium stuff, posting a 29.4 percent strikeout rate last season with a 6.8 percent walk rate, and his 33.6 percent chase rate was in the 92nd percentile. If he can handle a bigger workload, he could produce 200 strikeouts for the first time since 2019.
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  • Braves' Chris Sale: Agrees to two-year contract

    Sale signed a two-year, $38 million contract with Atlanta on Thursday. The deal also includes an $18 million club option for 2026. Sale had been slated to earn $27.5 million in 2024, but the reworked deal will drop his salary to $16 million for the upcoming season while adding a $22 million salary for 2025. Boston is covering $17 million, so Atlanta will be responsible for just $21 million over two years. The left-hander recently waived his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a trade from the Red Sox that sent Vaughn Grissom to Boston. The 102.2 innings Sale threw in 2023 more than doubled his total across the previous three seasons, and he will remain a major health question mark in 2024. He still boasted a 29.4 percent strikeout rate, though, and finished with a 2.88 ERA in September.
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  • Braves' Chris Sale: Traded to Atlanta

    The Red Sox traded Sale and cash considerations to Atlanta on Saturday in exchange for Vaughn Grissom, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Boston will send $17 million to Atlanta in order to cover some of the $27.5 million Sale is owed this season, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Sale put up a 4.30 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 102.2 frames last season with Boston and missed two months with a shoulder injury, but he finished the year strong, allowing eight earned runs over 25 innings across five starts in September.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Ends 2023 on high note

    Sale (6-5) took the loss Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over five innings against the Orioles. He struck out two. While Sale logged his fewest strikeouts in 15 starts, he limited the Orioles to just one run, which came via an Anthony Santander homer in the first. The veteran southpaw showed signs of encouragement in 2023 after making just 11 starts over the last two years, going 102 innings over 20 appearances with the Red Sox this season. He finished the campaign strongly, allowing one or no runs in four of his final five starts.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Whiffs seven in no-decision

    Sale came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the White Sox, allowing three hits and a walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out seven. The veteran southpaw put together another strong outing, but Sale left the mound in line for his fifth loss of the year before Boston rallied in the eighth inning. Since returning from the IL in mid-August, he has a 4.19 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 52:13 K:BB through 38.2 innings, but just one win in eight starts to show for it. Sale figures to take the mound one more time in 2023, on the road next week in Baltimore.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Fans 10 over six frames

    Sale did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings against Toronto. He struck out 10. Sale shut down the Blue Jays for most of the afternoon and didn't allow a run until Vladimir Guerrero took him deep for a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the seventh. It was the lefty's first start since May 20 in which he went at least six innings, and it marked his third time this season with 10 or more strikeouts. Sale has now given up two or fewer runs in eight of his last 11 starts and has surrendered only two hits in two of his last three. On the downside, he's also issued two walks in four consecutive outings.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Next start pushed back

    Sale's next scheduled start will come Saturday against the Blue Jays, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. Sale was set to take the ball Thursday against the Yankees, but he hasn't been particularly sharp in recent weeks, so he will get a couple extra days to rest before getting back up on the bump. The Red Sox have yet to name a starter for Thursday's game in place of Sale.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Six earned runs in loss

    Sale (6-4) took the loss Saturday, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks over four innings against Baltimore. He struck out five. The veteran lefty was plagued by the long ball, serving up a three-run homer to Aaron Hicks in the second inning and a two-run shot to James McCann in the fourth. Sale had been solid in his previous five starts after returning from injury Aug. 11, posting a 4.18 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while looking like his old self in the strikeout department with 11.4 K/9 across 23.2 innings during that span. However, Saturday's poor effort raised the southpaw's season-long ERA to 4.88, the highest of his 13-year career. Sale will aim to regain his form in his next outing, tentatively scheduled against the Yankees at home next week.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Blanks Royals

    Sale (6-3) earned the win Sunday, allowing two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings against Kansas City. He struck out five. Though Sale was unable to go deep enough to claim a quality start, he managed to pick up his fifth win of the season after holding the Royals scoreless across five frames. The outing was a strong bounce-back performance for the veteran after surrendering seven runs across his previous two starts (9.2 innings). Sale will look to keep the ball rolling in his next appearance, which is tentatively scheduled to come during a three-game home series against the Orioles this weekend.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Coughs up three runs

    Sale allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in Monday's loss to Houston. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision. Sale failed to complete five innings for the third time since returning from the injured list Aug. 11. During that span, he's registered a 5.30 ERA across 18.2 frames in four starts. He's now sporting a 4.75 ERA with a 96:21 K:BB through 15 outings this season. Sale's next start is lined up to be in Kansas City this weekend.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Strikes out nine Wednesday

    Sale allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out nine over five innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Wednesday. Sale built up to 80 pitches (53 strikes) in his third start back from a shoulder injury. While the surface numbers were unimpressive -- though also against the toughest opponent he's faced since his return -- his velocity rebounded to an average of 93.9 mph on his fastball after it sat at 91.8 mph last Thursday. The southpaw is at a 4.68 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB through 73 innings across 14 starts this season, and his pitch count Wednesday suggests he's close to shedding any workload restrictions. His next projected start is expected to be a rematch with the Astros at home early next week.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Velocity down

    Sale averaged 91.8 mph on his fastball Thursday, down significantly from the 94.5 mph he flashed in his first start off the injured list last Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. Neither Sale nor manager Alex Cora were overly concerned after the game. The pitcher was pleased he was able to fight through his diminished velo and make pitches when he had to, but he continues to face a restricted workload. The left-hander wasn't fully built up when he started last week and was pulled after 58 pitches. On Thursday, he got up to 65 pitches when Cora pulled him in the fifth inning after Sale issued a pair of walks.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Fans seven in return

    Sale allowed two runs on one hit over 4.2 innings in Friday's win over Detroit. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision. Sale looked strong in his first start since June 1 due to a stress reaction in his left scapula, tossing four shutout frames before the Tigers broke through in the fifth inning. He threw 42 of 58 pitches for strikes, including 12 whiffs. Over his last seven starts, the 34-year-old southpaw has posted a 2.43 ERA with a terrific 48:5 K:BB across 40.2 frames. Sale should have a longer leash in his next start, which is lined up to be next week in Washington.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Activated ahead of Friday's start

    Sale (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. Sale will make his long-awaited return to the Red Sox' rotation following a two-month absence due to a stress reaction in his left scapula. The veteran left-hander threw just 54 pitches in his second of two rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester and is expected to be limited to around four innings against Detroit on Friday.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Will be limited in return Friday

    Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sale (shoulder) will be limited to around four innings in his return to the rotation Friday versus the Tigers, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. Sale has been out since early June due to a stress reaction in his left scapula and threw only 35 and 54 pitches, respectively, in his two rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester. He looked sharp during that stint on the farm, though, tallying 10 strikeouts across 6.1 scoreless frames. The 34-year-old southpaw will have to continue building up on the fly, but he can maybe help Boston attempt to stage a late charge in the AL Wild Card standings.
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  • Red Sox's Chris Sale: Set to return from IL on Friday

    Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Sale (shoulder) will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Tigers at Fenway Park, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. Sale built up to just 53 pitches over his two rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester, but the Red Sox won't have the veteran southpaw waste any more bullets in the minors after he was electric in his most recent outing Sunday, when he struck out seven and walked none over 4.1 scoreless frames. Since he's not yet fully stretched out for a traditional starting role, Sale could be capped at around 70-to-80 pitches Friday and may be deployed in tandem with another pitcher, but he could still have a long enough leash to hit the five innings he needs to qualify for a win. Sale's upcoming start will be his first with the Red Sox since June 1 after a two-plus-month recovery from a stress reaction in his left scupla.
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