Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale made historical past in a 13-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, including to the rising listing of causes for the Boston Purple Sox to remorse buying and selling the eight-time All-Star.
Sale’s efficiency wasn’t masterful (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 Okay, 2 BB), however it did assist him set a single-season mark. The 35-year-old allowed two earned runs or fewer for the 18th straight outing, topping Felix Hernandez (2014) and Walter Johnson (1919) for the longest streak in baseball historical past, per Stathead.
In 2019, Ryne Stanek of the Tampa Bay Rays began 19 consecutive video games whereas permitting two earned runs or much less. Nonetheless, he served as an opener throughout that stretch, pitching no more than two innings in every outing.
Sale is a digital lock to win the Nationwide League Cy Younger award. On Thursday, the 35-year-old secured his league-leading 18th win of the season and ranks first within the majors in ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225).
In the meantime, the Purple Sox employees has struggled a bit, sporting the seventh-highest ERA within the American League (4.11). However, in case you ask Boston’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, the staff would not lament paying Sale $17M to play for the Braves after dumping his wage in a December 2023 commerce.
Appearing on “The Greg Hill Show” Thursday, Breslow admitted that the Purple Sox and each different MLB staff would profit from having Sale of their rotation. Nonetheless, he nonetheless thinks it was the appropriate transfer for Boston.
“I nonetheless consider that this commerce can solely be pretty judged or evaluated down the street,” Breslow stated. “Certain, it hurts that Chris Sale is having such a profitable season in one other uniform, however I at all times acknowledge that whenever you make these trades that is at all times a risk and his expertise was by no means going to be questioned.”
Breslow could also be confirmed proper, however that is determined by how Vaughn Grissom, the participant acquired in alternate for Sale, performs for the Purple Sox. Although, thus far, the 23-year-old infielder hasn’t flashed the potential hoped.
Grissom had a tough begin in Boston, slashing .148/.207/.161 with three RBI in 23 video games to start out the season earlier than happening with a hamstring damage. After recovering, the Purple Sox optioned him to Triple-A Worcester, the place he batted .265/.391/.381 with six residence runs and 34 RBI in 54 video games.
