Chris Sale Joins Randy Johnson With 9th 200-K Season

The milestone came on a pitch Sal Stewart could've taken to a challenge and didn't, which is why he's getting a sarcastic thank-you here. Doesn't matter. 200 is 200. Sale had been dealing all night, the back-foot slider was filthy, and the strikeouts kept stacking up until he got there.

Mark Bowman

@mlbbowman

Chris Sale has secured his ninth 200-strikeout season. Most recent pitchers 37 or older w/ a 200K season: 2026 Sale Braves 2022 Charlie Morton Braves 2021 Morton Braves 2012 R.A. Dickey Mets 2006 John Smoltz Braves

Look at that list of the most recent guys to do it at 37 or older. Sale, Charlie Morton twice, R.A. Dickey and John Smoltz, and 4 of those 5 seasons came in a Braves uniform. It's also a big deal given where Sale was a few years ago. Heading into 2024 he'd thrown just 151 innings total from 2020 to 2023 because of injuries. Then he got 200 strikeouts for the 8th time that September, and Brian Snitker was already calling it a Cy Young season. Now he's doing it again 2 years later.

Once he had it, Atlanta pulled him right away. He walked off the mound, the crowd stood up, and Sale tipped his cap on the way to the dugout.

Talkin' Baseball

@TalkinBaseball_

Chris Sale gets a salute from the Atlanta crowd after his 200th strikeout this year

There isn't much regular season left, and what matters now is Sale going into October feeling good. But he's 37, and most guys his age are hanging on as 5th starters. Sale is striking people out like the 2017 version of himself and passing the Hall of Famers he grew up watching. Randy Johnson still has 13 of these seasons, so that record is safe. Being the only other lefty with 9 is pretty good company.