Resurgent Chris Sale breaks Atlanta Braves records in dominant first half

The Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to head into the All-Star break with some momentum.

The Braves are currently 53-42 this season and sit in second place in the National League East. The Padres are now 50-49 this season and continue to position themselves for a wild card spot in the National League.

Veteran left-hander Chris Sale continued his superb first half of the season with a win Sunday, going 5.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits. He struck out four batters to improve to 13-3 this season with a 2.70 ERA.

Sale, who was traded to the Braves last offseason, has been a boon for Atlanta as it tries to overcome the loss of ace Spencer Strider. Sale was injured for most of the 2020-23 season with the Boston Red Sox, but now healthy, he looks like the Cy Young candidate he was for so many years. He was also named an All-Star this season but will not pitch in the game.

His season also put him in the Braves history books, according to @StatsCentre:

(Related) Fewest games in a season for a pitcher to reach 140 strikeouts – Franchise History @Braves:
16- Spence Strider (2023)
17- Smoltz (1996)
18- Sale (2024 via his 4th of 4 Ks Sunday against SDP)
19- Javier Vazquez (2009)
20- Smoltz (1995)
21- Greg Maddux (1995)

The Braves will be off until Friday for the All-Star break. They return with a series this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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