Chris Sale earns Cy Young nod at age 37

A 2.16 earned run average defined the final stretch of the season for Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale. MLB Network confirmed on Tuesday that the 37-year-old pitcher is a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award. Sale’s late-career performance placed him in direct contention with two other top arms in the league.

The three nominees include Sale, Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, and Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sánchez. Misiorowski enters the voting as the favorite, holding a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts across 30 starts. He went 16-5 on the season while throwing 174.2 innings. Sale’s numbers were close behind, with 200 strikeouts in 162.2 innings.

Sale’s 2026 season came after a period of injury that limited him to just 151 innings from 2020 to 2023. He returned to form in 2024, winning the Cy Young Award with 18 victories and a 2.38 ERA. That performance secured a one-year contract extension worth $27 million in February. The deal includes a club option for $30 million in 2028.

His standout moment this year occurred on Aug. 27 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sale threw an 11-strikeout complete game shutout. That outing reinvigorated discussion about his Hall of Fame chances. He served as the primary anchor for the Braves rotation, which also featured Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, and Tyler Mahle.

The Braves finished with 94 wins and claimed the NL East title. Their team ERA of 3.63 ranked as the fifth-best in baseball. Sale’s presence helped stabilize a staff that dealt with injuries throughout the year. His performance was a key factor in Atlanta’s push for the division crown.

Braves manager Walt Weiss is also on the ballot for NL Manager of the Year. Weiss replaced Brian Snitker and led the team to its first NL East title since 2023. The BBWAA will announce the Manager of the Year winner on Nov. 10. The Cy Young Award winner will be revealed the following day on Nov. 11.