MLB Awards: Chris Sale Joins Misiorowski as Cy Young Finalist
The 37-year-old Braves pitcher posted a 2.16 ERA and 200 strikeouts, securing a spot on the National League shortlist alongside Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez.
By Jasmine Carter ·
MLB Network announced Tuesday that Chris Sale is a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award. The Atlanta Braves left-hander joins Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski and Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sánchez on the three-person shortlist.
Sale finished the season with a 2.16 earned run average and 200 strikeouts over 162.2 innings. His performance helped anchor the Braves' pitching staff, which recorded the fifth-best team ERA in baseball at 3.63. The club finished the regular season with 94 wins and captured the National League East title.
The 37-year-old pitcher signed a one-year contract extension in February worth $27 million. That deal includes a club option for $30 million in 2028. Sale’s tenure in Atlanta follows a period where injuries limited him to just 151 innings between 2020 and 2023. He won the Cy Young Award in 2024 after leading Major League Baseball with 18 wins and posting a 2.38 ERA.
His 2026 campaign featured an 11-strikeout complete game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 27. That performance marked a key moment in his late-career resurgence. Sale served as the primary starter for a rotation that included Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, and Tyler Mahle.
Jacob Misiorowski is currently the favorite to win the award. He posted a 1.80 ERA with 252 strikeouts in 174.2 innings across 30 starts. His record stands at 16 wins and five losses.
The Cy Young Award will be announced on Nov. 11. Braves manager Walt Weiss is also a finalist for the National League Manager of the Year award. That honor will be announced on Nov. 10. Weiss replaced Brian Snitker and guided the team to its first division title since 2023.
