Draft and minors Sale was drafted by the White Sox with the 13th overall selection in the first round of the
2010 MLB draft. Once Sale signed with the White Sox in 2010, he was assigned to the White Sox'
Class A affiliate
Winston-Salem Dash. Sale pitched in four games with a 2.25 ERA in four innings, while giving up three hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out four during his tenure with the Dash. Sale was then promoted to the White Sox'
Triple-A affiliate
Charlotte Knights. He was the first 2010 draft pick to be promoted to the majors and got his first major league save on September 1, 2010, against the
Cleveland Indians. In 21 appearances in his rookie year, Sale went 2–1 with a 1.93 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 4 saves.
2011 During the
2011 season, Sale made 58 appearances out of the bullpen with a 2–2 record, a 2.79 ERA, 8 saves, and 79 strikeouts.
2012 Sale made the transition to a starting pitcher for the 2012 season. On May 28, Sale struck out a career-high 15 batters in innings during a 2–1 victory over the
Tampa Bay Rays. Sale's 15
strikeouts are tied for second most in franchise history with
Eddie Cicotte,
Ed Walsh, and
Jim Scott.
Jack Harshman and
Lance Lynn hold the White Sox team record with 16 strikeouts in a game. Sale was named the
American League (AL)
Pitcher of the Month for May with a record of 4–1, an ERA of 1.71, 35 strikeouts and a .181 opponents' average over six games. Sale was chosen by AL All-Star manager
Ron Washington to pitch in the
All-Star Game, Sale's first All-Star appearance. During the
2012 season, Sale compiled a 17–8 record, a 3.05 ERA, and 192 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched. He finished sixth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award.
2013 On March 7, 2013, Sale and the White Sox agreed on a five-year, $32 million contract with two team option years. On May 12, Sale threw a one-hit shutout during a 3–0 White Sox victory over the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Sale took a perfect game into the seventh inning. With one out in the top of the seventh inning,
Mike Trout singled up the middle for the only hit of the game. Sale finished the game with 7 strikeouts and no walks, allowing Trout as the only base runner. Sale began the season with a 6–8 record and a 2.85 ERA. He was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season. Sale pitched in the second and third innings, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out two
National League (NL) hitters. He was named the winning pitcher for the AL, which won
the game 3–0. In 30 starts of the 2013 season, Sale had an AL-leading 4 complete games, an 11–14 record, 226 strikeouts, and a 3.07 ERA in 214.1 innings pitched. He received one of the lowest run supports in the AL. Sale finished in fifth place in Cy Young votes for 2013.
2014 On April 21, Sale was placed on the 15-day
disabled list after sustaining a
flexor strain in his left (pitching) elbow. During his first start off the disabled list against the
New York Yankees on May 22, Sale retired the first 17 batters in a row before allowing a single by
Zoilo Almonte. He struck out 10 in 6 innings pitched as the White Sox won the game 3–2. During a game against the Angels on June 7, 2014, Sale had a 5–0 lead but surrendered 5 runs all in the 7th inning that featured a grand slam by
Mike Trout. Sale continued his dominance on the mound, winning eight of his first nine decisions and carrying an 8–1 record and 2.08 ERA into the All-Star break. After not initially making the All-Star roster, Sale was voted into the game by fans (alongside
Cubs first baseman
Anthony Rizzo) as part of the "Final Vote." Sale joined teammates
Jose Abreu and
Alexei Ramírez in the All-Star Game in
Minneapolis. Sale finished the season with a 12–4 record, 208 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched, and a 2.17 ERA, second-best in the American League. He finished third in voting for the AL Cy Young award, behind winner
Corey Kluber and
Félix Hernández.
2015 Sale started the 2015 year on the disabled list due to a foot injury. He returned on April 12, pitching 6 innings with 8 strikeouts in a 6–2 victory over the
Minnesota Twins. During a game against the
Kansas City Royals on April 23, Sale was warned by home plate umpire
Sam Holbrook after hitting
Mike Moustakas with a pitch. Later, Sale was involved in a bench-clearing brawl after his teammate
Adam Eaton grounded out to
Yordano Ventura. Sale was one of five players to be ejected for his role in the brawl as the White Sox lost to the Royals 2–3 in 13 innings. On April 25, Sale was suspended for 5 games. In a June 8 win over the
Houston Astros, Sale struck out 14 batters. On June 19, Sale had his fifth consecutive game with 12 or more strikeouts, tying a major league record. Also, on June 19, Sale had his 6th consecutive game with 10 or more strikeouts. On June 30 against the
St. Louis Cardinals, Sale struck out 12 batters to tie a major league record with his eighth consecutive start of 10 or more strikeouts. He shared the record with
Pedro Martínez, who accomplished the feat while pitching for the
Boston Red Sox in 1999. On October 2, versus the
Detroit Tigers, Sale set the franchise record for number of strikeouts in a season. The previous record of 269 strikeouts in a season was held by Hall of Famer
Ed Walsh in 1908. Walsh accomplished the feat in 464 innings, while Sale's 270th strikeout came amid his 203rd inning of 2015. He finished the season 13–11 with a 3.41 ERA, and led the majors in strikeouts per 9 innings (11.82) and
hit by pitch (13).
2016 Sale began the 2016 season by winning each of his first 9 starts. He entered the All-Star Break with a 14–3 record (12 quality starts), an ERA of 3.38, and a WHIP of 1.04. Royals manager
Ned Yost named him the starter for the
MLB All-Star Game. In the All-Star Game, Sale pitched one inning and gave up a home run to
Kris Bryant of the Cubs. On July 23, prior to a game against the
Detroit Tigers, the White Sox were set to wear throwback uniforms based on the design implemented by
Bill Veeck during his second ownership of the White Sox. Sale was not pleased about the idea, as he felt the pullover jerseys were too baggy and interfered with his pitching mechanics, and this prompted him to use scissors to tear up the throwback uniforms that had been laid out in the clubhouse while the rest of the team was on the field for practice. Shortly after, the White Sox sent Sale home and scratched him from his start that day, and the White Sox took the field in their 1982–86 throwbacks instead. The next day, on July 24, the White Sox suspended Sale for five days. He later expressed regret for his actions. In 2016, Sale made 32 starts, finishing with a 17–10 record, a 3.34 ERA, and 233 strikeouts, in innings pitched. He also led the majors with six complete games and 17 hit batsmen.
Boston Red Sox (2017–2023) On December 6, 2016, the White Sox traded Sale to the
Boston Red Sox for
Yoán Moncada,
Michael Kopech,
Luis Alexander Basabe, and Víctor Díaz. Upon joining Boston, Sale switched his uniform number from 49 to 41 because 49 is unofficially retired for
Tim Wakefield.
2017 With the
2017 Red Sox, Sale began the season by striking out 10 or more batters in eight consecutive starts, tying the major league record he already shared with
Pedro Martínez. After going 11–4 with a 2.75 ERA and an MLB leading 178 strikeouts in the first half, Sale was named the AL's starting pitcher at the
All-Star Game for the second consecutive season, the first pitcher to do so since
Randy Johnson started for the NL in 2000 and 2001 and the first for the AL since
Dave Stieb in 1983–84. Sale pitched two scoreless innings in the game, striking out two batters. In his second start after the All-Star break, Sale joined Johnson, Martínez and
Nolan Ryan as the only four pitchers to have struck out 200 batters in their first 20 starts of a season. Pitching against the
Toronto Blue Jays on August 29, Sale recorded his 1,500th career strikeout, becoming the fastest to do so in terms of innings pitched. At that point, he had reached 1,290 innings, surpassing
Kerry Wood, who had done so in 1,303 innings. Sale reached 300 strikeouts for the season when he struck out 13 batters on September 20. It was the first 300 strikeout season since
Clayton Kershaw in 2015, and the first in the AL since Martínez in
1999. In 32 starts in 2017, Sale finished with a 17–8 record, a 2.90 ERA, and an MLB-leading 308 strikeouts. He again led the majors in strikeouts per 9 innings (12.93). The Red Sox clinched the
AL East division with a 93–69 record. In the first postseason appearance of his MLB career, Sale was the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the
AL Division Series (ALDS) against the
Houston Astros. He allowed nine hits and seven runs in five innings, taking the loss. Sale then pitched in relief in Game 4, allowing four hits and two runs in innings and again taking the loss, as the Astros eliminated the Red Sox with a 5–4 win. Sale had a postseason ERA of 8.38 while striking out 12 and walking one in innings pitched. Despite being the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award throughout the entire regular season, Sale finished second in the voting behind
Corey Kluber, who won the award for a second time. Despite pitching more innings and recording more strikeouts than anyone else in baseball that season, Sale's subpar finish to the season after a blistering start (13–4 with a 2.37 ERA and 211 strikeouts in innings (21 starts) before August 1, but 4–4 with a 4.09 ERA in 66 innings (11 starts) and 13 home runs allowed after August 1) combined with Kluber's masterful run after an abysmal start to the season followed by a month-long stint on the DL (3–2 with a 5.06 ERA in innings (six starts) before May 2, but 15–2 with 224 strikeouts, a 1.62 ERA in innings (23 starts), 4 complete games and a 9.74 K/BB ratio after June 1) cost Sale his best chance yet at winning the Cy Young. He did, however, finish ninth in the AL MVP voting, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to finish that high since
Pedro Martínez finished fifth in 2000.
2018 Sale was the
Opening Day starting pitcher for the
2018 Red Sox. Facing the
Tampa Bay Rays at
Tropicana Field, he pitched six innings, giving up just one hit and walking three, while striking out nine. However, the Rays scored six runs in the eighth inning off of Boston's bullpen, defeating the Red Sox, 6–4, and leaving Sale with a
no decision. During June, Sale had a 1.76 ERA over six starts and recorded 60 strikeouts in 41 innings; he was named the
AL Pitcher of the Month. On July 6, Sale pitched six innings while allowing just one run against the
Kansas City Royals, getting the win. It was his ninth win of the season (against four losses), and the 100th win of his MLB career. Two days later, Sale was named to the
All-Star Game; he was named the AL starting pitcher, for the third consecutive year, on July 16. On July 31, he was placed on the disabled list due to left shoulder inflammation; at that point in the season, he had an 11–4 record with 2.04 ERA in 22 starts. He was activated on August 12, On August 18, Sale was again placed on the 10-day disabled list—retroactive to August 15—due to inflammation of the same shoulder. He was activated on September 11, pitching one inning in that day's game against Toronto. Sale made two appearances, including one start, in the
ALDS, allowing two earned runs in innings. In the
AL Championship Series, he made one appearance, a start, allowing two earned runs in four innings. On October 23, Sale started Game 1 of the
World Series for the Red Sox at home at
Fenway Park. He pitched four-plus innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out seven in a
no decision. The Red Sox went on to win the game, 8–4. During Game 4, with the Red Sox trailing by four runs, Sale gained notoriety for shouting at his teammates in the dugout, imploring them to generate more offense (the team had only one hit through the first six innings). The Red Sox went on to win, 9–6, taking a three games to one lead in the series. In Game 5, Sale became a World Series champion for the first time, closing out the final inning, including a series-ending strikeout of
Manny Machado. Overall, in postseason innings he allowed seven earned runs while striking out 24 batters.
2019 On March 23, 2019, Sale signed a five-year, $145 million extension with the Red Sox. Sale earned $15 million in 2019 via a club option in his prior contract, with the extension covering 2020 through 2024 plus a vesting option for 2025. Manager
Alex Cora named Sale as Boston's starting pitcher for
Opening Day. Sale started the season 0–4 with an 8.50 ERA, a performance he called "flat-out embarrassing." On May 8, Sale threw an
immaculate inning for the first time in his career, striking out three straight Orioles batters on a total of nine pitches. On May 14 against Colorado, Sale struck out 17 batters, a new career-high; he left after seven innings and received a
no decision as Boston lost in
extra innings. He pitched his second immaculate inning on June 5, in a complete-game shutout against Kansas City, striking out 12. On August 13, Sale recorded the 2,000th strikeout of his major league career; he reached that mark in 1,626 innings pitched, the fewest innings needed to accomplish the feat in MLB history. On August 17, Sale was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation, retroactive to August 14. After meeting with
James Andrews on August 19, it was determined that Sale did not need surgery; however, the inflammation in his elbow was expected to end his season. On September 1, the Red Sox moved him to the 60-day injured list. For the 2019 season, Sale had a 6–11 record with 4.40 ERA and 218 strikeouts in innings. He had 14 games with 10+ strikeouts, including a period from April 21 to June 26 when he recorded 10+ strikeouts in 10 out of 13 starts.
2020 On February 27, 2020, Red Sox manager
Ron Roenicke announced that Sale would not be ready for Opening Day due to his progress in spring training being hampered by
pneumonia. Two weeks later, the season was delayed due to
COVID-19 pandemic concerns. On March 19, the team announced that Sale would undergo
Tommy John surgery, thereby ending his 2020 season. On March 30, the Red Sox announced that Sale successfully underwent the surgery, which was performed in Los Angeles. On June 28, days before the restart of preseason training, the team placed Sale on the 45-day injured list (reduced from 60-day for 2020). In an article in
The New York Times, "Was That Pitcher's Surgery Truly Essential?", columnist
Tyler Kepner discussed the Tommy John surgery of both Sale and
Noah Syndergaard in a time when the coronavirus pandemic had led federal, state, and local authorities to restrict medical procedures to essential services only. Sale, who had been receiving treatment by Andrews at his Florida clinic, had his surgery performed at the
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in
Los Angeles after Andrews suspended all non-emergency medical surgery in compliance with Florida's coronavirus pandemic policy.
2021 On February 18, 2021, Sale was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery. He later stated that he had "a mild case" of
COVID-19 in January. On June 8, Sale threw a practice session in the bullpen at Fenway Park for the first time since 2019. On July 15, the team optioned Sale to the
Florida Complex League (FCL) for a rehabilitation assignment. The team next sent him to
Double-A on a rehabilitation assignment, where he pitched innings for the
Portland Sea Dogs on July 20 without allowing a hit. He subsequently pitched in Triple-A for the
Worcester Red Sox. Sale was added to Boston's active roster on August 14, for a start against the Orioles. On August 26 against Minnesota, Sale recorded the third
immaculate inning of his career. On September 10, Sale was placed on the COVID-related injured list, due to a
positive test; he returned to the team on September 17. Overall during the regular season, Sale made nine starts for Boston, pitching to a 5–1 record with 3.16 ERA and striking out 52 batters in innings. Prior to the start of the regular season, he was placed on the 60-day injured list. On July 1, Sale pitched for the Portland Sea Dogs in a rehabilitation assignment, allowing one run on four hits in four innings while striking out seven batters. During a rehab start in Triple-A on July 7, a video captured Sale destroying items in the dugout tunnel after he issued five walks and allowed one run in innings. He returned to Boston's lineup on July 12, receiving a no decision after allowing no runs on three hits in five innings. On July 17, he suffered a left fifth-finger fracture after being struck by a line drive hit by
Aaron Hicks. Sale underwent surgery, involving
open reduction and internal fixation, the next day. He was officially added to the injured list on July 22. On August 6, Sale broke his right wrist while riding his bicycle to lunch, ending his season. Chief Baseball Officer
Chaim Bloom commented that the Red Sox needed to find whoever had a "Chris Sale
voodoo doll", referring to his list of injuries since the 2019 season. In two starts for the Red Sox, Sale posted an 0–1 record with 3.18 ERA while striking out five batters in innings.
2023 Sale began the season in Boston's rotation, posting a 5–2 record with a 4.58 ERA through 11 starts. On June 1, he was removed from a game against the
Cincinnati Reds after experiencing shoulder discomfort; he was placed on the injured list the next day. On June 9, Sale was transferred to the 60-day injured list after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in the
scapula. He was activated for a start against the
Detroit Tigers on August 11. He finished the season with a 6–5 record and a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts. He pitched over innings, more than double what he pitched in 2021 and 2022 combined.
Atlanta Braves (2024–present) On December 30, 2023, the Red Sox traded Sale and
cash considerations to the
Atlanta Braves in exchange for
Vaughn Grissom. Days later, Sale signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension with the Braves with an $18 million club option for the 2026 season.
2024 Sale was selected to the
2024 All-Star Game roster as a reserve, alongside teammates
Marcell Ozuna and
Reynaldo López. On August 13, against the
San Francisco Giants, Sale recorded his 11th game with no earned runs, 3 or fewer hits allowed, and at least 12 strikeouts, tying
Sandy Koufax for third-most all-time, behind
Nolan Ryan (23) and
Randy Johnson (13). That same game, he and Giants pitcher
Blake Snell matched shutout innings for six innings; the game was decided in extras, with the Braves winning 1–0. On September 3, Sale recorded his 200th strikeout of the season while facing the
Colorado Rockies. It was the eighth time in his career and the first time in five seasons that Sale had reached the milestone. He also set a franchise record by allowing two or fewer earned runs in 15 consecutive starts. Sale finished the regular season with a record of 18–3 and led the NL in ERA (2.38), strikeouts (225), and wins (18). He became the first Braves pitcher to win a
Triple Crown.
Detroit Tigers pitcher
Tarik Skubal earned the Triple Crown in the AL, marking the first time since 2011 that the milestone had been achieved in both leagues. Sale also won a
Gold Glove Award, the NL
Comeback Player of the Year Award, was named to the
All-MLB First Team, and won the
NL Cy Young Award, all career firsts. Skubal also won the
AL Cy Young Award, marking the third time in major league history that both Cy Young recipients in one season were left-handed pitchers.
2025 On May 29, 2025, Sale recorded his 2,500th strikeout in the sixth inning against the
Philadelphia Phillies when he struck out
Edmundo Sosa. He became the 38th pitcher in MLB's modern era (since 1901) and the 40th pitcher in MLB history to reach this mark. Sale also became the fastest to reach 2,500 strikeouts in 2,026 innings, breaking the record of 2,107 innings by
Randy Johnson. On June 18, Sale pitched scoreless innings against the
New York Mets, for his longest appearance since a complete game shutout on June 5, 2019. During the ninth inning, he made a diving play from the mound, which was later attributed as the cause of a fractured rib cage. Sale was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 1. Sale made the
All-Star Game roster as a player and coach selection. Sale returned to the active roster on August 30.
2026 On February 24, 2026, Sale and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $27 million contract extension through 2027, which included a club option for 2028. On April 26, Sale picks up his 150th career win against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he pitched six innings, allowed only one hit, walked two batters, and struck out nine in a 6–2 victory. ==Awards and achievements==