Early in his career, Chris Sale seemed on a fast track to the Hall of Fame. Between 2012 and 2018, the lanky lefty went 99-59 with a 2.91 ERA and 1,678 strikeouts. Had Tommy John surgery not derailed his career, he could be sitting at 3,000+ strikeouts and over 200 wins had he kept up the pace of his early years. Instead, one more standout year with the Atlanta Braves may be the thing that brings Sale to Cooperstown.
Despite a long list of injuries, when Sale arrived in Atlanta, he was one of just 28 players to have an ERA under 3.25 and 2,000+ strikeouts over a career, and he had done so in just 1,780 ⅔ innings, fewer than anyone else on the list. Those abbreviated innings, though, represent a major knock on Sale’s Hall of Fame hopes. Sale’s time with the Braves has been as much about endurance as it has been about excellence. That late-career push has him on the threshold of Cooperstown.
Chris Sale’s success and health during his tenure with the Braves may seal his Hall of Fame case
First and foremost, Sale finally earned a Cy Young Award and a Triple Crown) with his tremendous 2024 campaign. He finished in the Top 5 of Cy voting in six straight seasons; he spent almost as long chasing the award and recognition amid his injuries. In 2025, he once again missed considerable time due to a fractured rib.
If Sale remains healthy in 2026, which could be his swan song since he will be a free agent and closing in on 38 years old at season’s end, he could reach milestones that make his candidacy for the Hall undeniable. He needs just 171 strikeouts to hit 2,750; he collected 165 Ks in 2025 despite missing two months of the season. His career ERA could dip below 3.00 (currently 3.01).
Among the previously mentioned 28 players with a sub-3.25 ERA and 2,000+ strikeouts, Sale is one of just six not in the Hall. Four of those players are still active or not yet eligible, and one is Roger Clemens. The last, though, should give Sale an idea of the marks he needs to hit in 2026. Sam McDowell put together an incredible eight-year span with Cleveland in the late 1960s. In fact, his stats mirror Sale’s run in the mid-2010s. McDowell, though, fell apart and missed out on Cooperstown as his final four seasons hit the skids. Sale needs to finish strong to avoid sputtering out like Sudden Sam.