5 Reasons Chris Sale deserves to be on the AL All-Star Roster
Jun 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Since managers of the two MLB All-Star teams are the ones who select the pitchers for the All-Star teams, let’s hope AL All-Star manager John Ferrell makes the right choice and selects Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale to the roster.
The selections will be announced on Sunday, July 6 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN in a special selection show.
Here are five reasons why Sale should make the All-Star team, even with his stint on the disabled list earlier this season.
1. ERA
The White Sox left-handed ace has an ERA of 2.16, second-best in the AL, trailing only Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who has an ERA of 2.10. In his past 10 starts, Sale has allowed no earned runs twice, one earned run four times and two earned runs twice.
He has one slip-up against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he allowed four earned runs, but that came off one swing by Mike Trout in the eighth inning with two outs.
Sale also allowed three runs to the San Francisco Giants in that 10-game span, but considering the White Sox won six of those game, plus with nearing a month on the DL from start one to start two in that 10-game span, it’s still very impressive in my book.
The one time he pitched three innings in a start was due to rain, so it seems to me the only thing that has stopped Sale from producing this season in inclement weather.
2. Strikeouts
Sale has 96 strikeouts in 13 starts this season, an average of 7.38 per start. In the three-inning outing that was hampered due to rain, Sale was on a roll with four strikeouts against the Cleveland Indians.
This season, Sale has 10-plus strikeouts in a start four times, including his most recent start on July 4 where he struck out the Mariners 12 times in a complete game effort.
Even with missing nearly a month on the DL with the left flexor strain, Sale is still 11th in the AL in strikeouts as he’s pitched 87.1 innings, compared to the 131.0 innings pitched by AL leader David Price, who has 153 strikeouts.
Sale also ranks fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.89) and fifth in the AL in strikeouts per walk (6.00).