Braves pitcher Chris Sale earns Cy Young finalist nod

200. That is the number of strikeouts Chris Sale recorded for the Atlanta Braves this season. The 37-year-old left-hander was named a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award by MLB Network on Tuesday.

Sale finished the regular campaign with a 2.16 earned run average over 162.2 innings. He served as the primary stabilizing force for a rotation that dealt with numerous injuries during the team's 94-win year. His performance helped the Braves secure the fifth-best team earned run average in Major League Baseball at 3.63.

The selection places Sale in competition with two younger pitchers. Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski enters the race as the favorite. Misiorowski went 16-5 with a 1.80 earned run average and 252 strikeouts in 174.2 innings across 30 starts. Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sánchez is the third finalist on the list.

Sale's return to form has drawn renewed attention to his Hall of Fame case. Injuries limited him to just 151 innings between 2020 and 2023. However, his 2024 season, where he led the league with 18 wins and posted a 2.38 earned run average, earned him his first Cy Young trophy. A key moment this year was an 11-strikeout complete game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 27.

Financially, Sale secured his status with the Braves in February by signing a one-year, $27 million contract extension. The deal includes a club option for $30 million in 2028.

The winner of the Cy Young Award will be announced on Nov. 11. Braves manager Walt Weiss, who replaced Brian Snitker and led the team to its first National League East title since 2023, is also a finalist for Manager of the Year. That award will be decided on Nov. 10.