White Sox two-time All-Star Chris Sale ranks among American League leaders in complete games (first with four), strikeouts per nine innings pitched (fourth, 9.49), strikeouts to walks ratio (fourth 4.77), ERA (fifth at 2.73) and opponents average (seventh .224) to name a handful.
Here are some of Sale’s notable accomplishments in his second season as a starting pitcher in the major leagues, courtesy of the White Sox media relations office:
*His 2.73 ERA would be the lowest by a Sox starter since Wilbur Wood (2.51) in 1972.
*Is on pace to record 227 strikeouts, which would rank fifth in franchise
history and be the most since Ed Walsh fanned 254 in 1912.
*His four complete games are the most by a Sox left-hander since Mark Buehrle in 2004 (also four).
*He is limiting left-handers to a .142 (16-113) average, lowest among major-league starters.
*Has struck out 10 or more batters nine times in 51 career starts and five times in 2013 (all in his last 14 starts), one behind Juan Pizarro (1961) for the second-highest, single-season total in Sox history.
*Leads the AL since 2012 with a 2.18 ERA.
Sale is off to an impressive start to his career, to say the least. When his career is over, do you believe he will rank as the Sox’ best lefty of all-time?
