Chris Sale draws big comparison

While the strikeouts continue to pile up for White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, the young left-hander has started earning comparisons to another southpaw who had a penchant for missing opponents' bats: Randy Johnson.

Sale has fanned 23 batters -- ninth-most in the American league -- over 26 innings during his first four starts of the season.

"He's filthy; he's a true number one guy who can go out there and dominate, strike out 10-plus a game," said Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle, who was a teammate with Sale on the White Sox. "You can see comparisons between him and Randy Johnson. When you're that filthy ... you can get away with a lot more than some other guys can."

White Sox pitching coordinator Curt Hasler agreed with Buehrle's assessment, as Sale consistently reaches the mid-90s with his fastball and buckled hitters with a sharp slider and changeup.

"That would be a great comparison, and I trust Buehrle," Hasler told MLB.com. "[Johnson and Sale] have plus-plus stuff -- plus breaking balls -- and they're horses. Randy Johnson was a No. 1 for a lot years, and Chris can be that as well."