Chris Sale Climbs All-Time Strikeout List with Atlanta Braves

The future Hall of Famer is pushing for milestones that will become increasingly rare in modern baseball.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:00am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the motion and delivery of a baseball pitcher, with sharp, overlapping geometric planes in the vibrant colors of the Atlanta Braves' uniform, conceptually representing the dynamic resurgence of Chris Sale's career.Chris Sale's remarkable comeback with the Atlanta Braves is reflected in a cubist-inspired illustration that captures the dynamism and complexity of his pitching prowess.Atlanta Today

Chris Sale, the veteran left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, recently passed Tom Glavine on the all-time strikeouts list, moving up to 29th place with 2,608 career strikeouts. He is now the 8th all-time among left-handed pitchers and is closing in on several other pitching legends on the list. Sale's resurgence with the Braves has put him on track to potentially reach 3,000 career strikeouts, a milestone that is becoming increasingly rare in the modern game.

Why it matters

Sale's climb up the all-time strikeouts list is a testament to his remarkable comeback and return to All-Star form with the Braves. As the number of pitchers reaching 3,000 strikeouts dwindles, Sale's achievements will become even more significant and valuable to his Hall of Fame case. His success in Atlanta has played a pivotal role in his path to baseball immortality.

The details

In the Braves' 3-1 win over the Phillies on Saturday, Sale pitched seven innings of one-run ball, striking out seven batters. Those seven strikeouts pushed him past Tom Glavine on the all-time list, and he now ranks 29th overall. Among left-handed pitchers, he is 8th all-time. In his next start, he'll likely pass Chuck Finley and move up another spot. Realistically, he could surpass David Cone (2,668) and Frank Tanana (2,773) this season as well, putting him in the top 25 all-time.

  • On April 15, 2026, Sale struck out 7 batters in 7 innings against the Phillies.
  • In his next start, Sale will pass Chuck Finley on the all-time strikeouts list.

The players

Chris Sale

A veteran left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves who is climbing the all-time strikeouts list and solidifying his Hall of Fame case.

Tom Glavine

A former left-handed pitcher who is 30th on the all-time strikeouts list, and who Sale recently passed.

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What’s next

If Sale continues his strong performance, he could potentially reach 3,000 career strikeouts by the end of the 2027 season, a milestone that is becoming increasingly rare in modern baseball.

The takeaway

Chris Sale's resurgence with the Atlanta Braves has put him on a path to reach rare pitching milestones like 3,000 career strikeouts, a feat that is becoming increasingly uncommon as the landscape of the game changes. His accomplishments deserve further appreciation as he solidifies his Hall of Fame case.