Chris SaleATL · SP

2026 review

Chris Sale was an elite strikeout-and-control arm all year: a 30.9 K% and a 4.8 BB% over 648 BF, both firmly on the good end for a starter, backing a 2.16 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 162.2 IP across 27 GS with 14 W, 9 L and 200 SO. He worked from Mar 27 through Sep 23, his innings climbing and falling by month from 6.0 IP in Mar to a high of 32.0 IP in May before tailing to 18.2 IP in Sep. Drafted at NFBC ADP rank 33, he finished 28th of 1472 overall in the TDK LABS 5x5 value rank, 4th of 811 pitchers, 5 spots above his ADP rank, and 4th of 236 starters. His 4.8 BB% and 30.9 K% over 648 BF were the 17th lowest and 31st highest of 517 pitchers with 100+ BF, and his 31.3 CSW% over 2575 pitches was the 35th highest of 517 pitchers with 100+ BF. His 2.16 ERA ran 0.81 below his 2.97 xERA over 648 BF. The TDK LABS card tracked him as a top arm from early on, calling him a staff anchor in rampage form in early May, still an ace in peak form heading into Aug, and peaking into the stretch by late Sep.