By FRANCISCO ENRIQUE AVILA
There is a specific kind of silence that falls over a stadium when a starting pitcher starts to dictate a game. At its best, this becomes a dominant rhythm. In 2026, are we starting to see that in Atlanta? Chris Sale isn’t just “back” from the brink of an injury-riddled career; the 2024 NL Cy Young winner has evolved into a total nightmare for hitters. With a pitch sequence that defies physics and a competitive drive that recalls the golden era of the mound, Sale is proving that while Father Time is undefeated, he’s currently trapped in an 0-2 count and facing down Sale’s slider, which might be the nastiest in the sport.
Sale has made two starts this season and been almost untouchable in both. Meanwhile, Atlanta had a 4-2 week, winning series at home against Oakland and on the road against Arizona, putting the Braves tied for second heading into Monday night’s game with the Angels.
Sale’s commanding presence is starting to raise eyebrows
Sale’s brilliant performance through his first two starts has seen him dismantle opposing lineups with a precision that left the opposition searching for answers. On Wednesday in the rubber game of the series against Oakland, he displayed the resilience that wins over the clubhouse as well as the fans. Despite battling a severe illness that he said left him “unable to keep anything down”, Sale took the mound on his 37th birthday and retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced. His fastball velocity was down due to his sickness, but his competitive IQ was at an all-time high. He surrendered just a single hit—a solo homer—over six innings of one-hit ball. It wasn’t about the radar gun; it was a masterclass performance where he found a way to win when his body had other ideas.
Wednesday’s start was significant for another reason; it was the 314th of his career, matching the total number of starts made by Dodgers all-time great Sandy Koufax. Sale’s all-time numbers stack up quite favorably to Koufax; he has a higher WAR and more strikeouts (2,588 and counting). Sale currently ranks second in the National League and sixth in the majors in WHIP (0.58), and he’s tied for ninth in the MLB in EEA (0.75).
He’ll be back at it tonight as the Braves begin their road trip against the Angels.
Looking Ahead
After taking two out of four from the Diamondbacks away from home with the final game ending in a 6-5 loss, the Braves continue on the road for another week of baseball. Fans can catch the Braves as they continue their trip against the Angels before returning home Friday to face the Cleveland Guardians.
Upcoming Schedule & TV Information:
- Mon, April 6: Atlanta Braves (Sale, 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) at L.A. Angels (Soriano, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) | 9:38 PM | BravesVision / MLB.tv / Fubo
- Tue, April 7: Atlanta Braves (Lopez, 1-0, 1.64 ERA0.91 WHIP) at L.A. Angels (Kikuchi, 0-1, 6.52 ERA, 1.97 WHIP) | 9:38 PM | BravesVision / MLB.tv / Fubo
- Wed, April 8: Atlanta Braves (Holmes, 0-1, 2.46 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) at L.A. Angels (Sandoval, 2026 Debut) | 4:07 PM | BravesVision / MLB.tv / Fubo
- Fri, April 10: Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta Braves| 7:15 PM | BravesVision / MLB.tv / Fubo
- Sat, April 11: Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta Braves | 7:15 PM | BravesVision / MLB.tv / Fubo
- Sun, April 12: Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta Braves | 7:20 PM | NBC / Peacock