It’s been a remarkable resurgence for Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale, and his latest performance has punched his ticket back into the elite tier of MLB’s pitching power rankings.

After going unranked just two weeks ago, Sale has stormed his way to the No. 3 spot, thanks to a dominant stretch that has reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the best in the game. Through his first 42 innings this season, the tall lefty has posted a sparkling 6-1 record with a 2.14 ERA and 49 strikeouts. When you’re putting up numbers like that, it’s hard to keep you off any list.

What makes this run even more impressive is the journey Sale took to get here. Drafted 13th overall by the Chicago White Sox in 2010 out of Florida Gulf Coast University, he made his MLB debut just weeks later. After establishing himself as a force in Chicago, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox before the 2017 season. But a string of unfortunate injuries derailed his time in Boston, leading to a trade to Atlanta after the 2023 season.

Even with the Braves, Sale has faced adversity. He dealt with back spasms during the 2024 postseason and missed 10 weeks last season with a rib cage fracture. This year, however, he’s been healthy—knock on wood—with his only absence coming from an April illness that didn’t even cost him a start.

His impact on the Braves has been undeniable. With the rotation needing a reliable ace, Sale has stepped up and delivered. Braves manager Walt Weiss summed it up best after a dominant Sale start at Coors Field: "He’s a freak. He’s a Hall of Famer, and those guys are just different." Since joining Atlanta in 2024, Sale is 31-9 with a 2.42 ERA and a 171 ERA+. Those are the numbers of a pitcher who has not only found his groove but reclaimed his spot among the game’s elite.

Sale’s resurgence is a huge reason the Braves have jumped out to an MLB-best 26-12 record to start the season. For a team that was hurting for arms, he’s been the stabilizing force they needed—and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.