White Sox ace Chris Sale finishes 2nd in AL ERA

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It was another very productive season for Chicago White Sox left-handed pitcher Chris Sale, as the ace of the White Sox pitching staff finished with the second-best ERA in the American League.

Sep 11, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Sale finished with a 2.17 ERA, only trailing Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez at 2.14.

The AL leaders in ERA were also second and third in MLB in the ERA race, with Sale finishing ahead of fourth-place Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds (2.25) and Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals (2.38).

Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers led the majors with a 1.77 ERA.

This was another great season for the White Sox ace, one all White Sox fans should have enjoyed. Sale was the leader in the pitching staff again in ’14, and some months was the only hope of gaining a win during the week.

He was fourth in the majors with 0.97 walks per inning and fifth in MLB by holding opponents to a .205 batting average.

Sale was also second in strikeouts per nine innings in the majors at 10.76, with Kershaw leading that category at 10.85.

Looking at Sale’s double-digit strikeout games, the most he had in a game this season was 13 on Aug. 30 against the Detroit Tigers, where he totaled 13. He struck out 12 on three other occasions in ’14.

Sale also missed nearly a month this season with a left flexor strain, going from April 17-May 22 in-between starts.