PITTSBURGH -- Chris Sale enters Friday night’s start against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium looking to do what only John Smoltz has ever done for the Braves.
Sale earned his 10th All-Star selection last weekend. He ranks fourth in the National League with a 2.27 ERA through 16 starts. As long as he doesn’t implode, Sale will own the best ERA of any Braves pitcher 37 or older through the first 17 starts of a season.
Smoltz currently holds that distinction courtesy of the 2.74 ERA he posted at this mark in 2005. In fact, he’s the only Braves pitcher 37 or older to produce a sub 3.00 ERA through the first 17 starts of a season in the Modern Era (since 1900).
Sale also has a chance to join Max Scherzer (2.15 ERA) and Justin Verlander (1.89 ERA) as the only MLB pitchers 37 or older to produce a sub 2.30 ERA through the first 17 starts of a season during this decade. The only others to do it this century were A.J. Burnett (2015), Roger Clemens (2005), Tom Glavine (2004), Al Leiter (2004) and Kevin Brown (2003).
Sale has constructed a 1.94 ERA over his past 13 outings and his fastball has had as much life as it has at any point since he started to deal with discomfort and injuries during the 2019 season.
Sale’s four-seam fastball averaged 96.7 mph on Saturday, up from his season average of 95.9 mph entering play Saturday. It was the fifth-highest average he’s produced in any game going back to the start of 2019. Four of those highest averages have been produced since May 28.