The Atlanta Braves had a challenging May 2025, finishing below .500 after briefly rising above the mark mid-month before struggling during the final two weeks. Despite the team’s struggles, Chris Sale’s dominant pitching performance May 2025 stood out as a highlight, showcasing his continued value as one of baseball’s elite starters. Sale’s excellence provided a bright spot amid the team’s uneven results.
Strong Contributions from Key Position Players
Several Braves hitters showed consistency throughout May. Drake Baldwin began the month with a hot streak, hitting nearly .400 and compiling an OPS over 1.000 across 19 games, including 21 hits and three home runs. Matt Olson demonstrated his power by belting eight home runs, while Marcell Ozuna drew an impressive 22 walks. Ozzie Albies ended a persistent slump in the later part of the month, contributing to the lineup’s resurgence in the final weeks.
Defensively, Michael Harris II continued providing exciting plays in center field, and Nick Allen emerged as possibly the best defensive shortstop in Major League Baseball this year. Meanwhile, Ronald Acuña Jr. made a powerful return to the lineup, energizing the team.
Starting and Bullpen Pitching Remain Solid Beyond Sale
The Braves’ pitching staff showed reliability over May alongside Sale’s dominance. Bryce Elder pitched well in his three starts before being removed from the roster. Grant Holmes and Spencer Schwellenbach were effective throughout the month, maintaining quality performances. The bullpen also contributed meaningfully, with Dylan Lee, Enyel De Los Santos, Pierce Johnson, and Aaron Bummer delivering strong collective outings to stabilize relief innings.
Chris Sale’s Historic Month and Milestones
Chris Sale’s May 2025 was extraordinary, as he made five starts, pitching 32.1 innings while allowing only four earned runs on 24 hits and striking out 40 batters. Notably, Sale recorded the 2,500th strikeout of his MLB career during his final appearance in May, achieving this milestone faster than any pitcher in league history.
Sale’s ability to maintain an elite level has bolstered his case for All-Star selection and put him on track to possibly win back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards, a testament to his high performance since mid-April. While much remains in the season, his progression has been undeniable.
Detailed Breakdown of Sale’s Pitching Excellence
In May, Sale completed seven innings in two games and worked deep into the seventh inning in another. He heavily relied on his slider, throwing it over half the time, a pitch that continues to baffle batters. His fastball velocity increased as the season progressed, peaking at an average of 96.8 MPH in his Boston start, about a mile per hour faster than his overall monthly average.
The quality of Sale’s breaking pitches is exceptional, evidenced by Baseball Savant’s perfect score of 100 in Breaking Run Value for the season. Since April 13, Sale has not yielded more than two earned runs per game, a streak highlighting his consistency and dominance. His ERA dropped significantly from 4.84 at April’s end to 3.04 by May 31, alongside a 2.92 xFIP and a strikeout rate of 31 percent—reflecting his elite ability to retire hitters.
Implications for the Braves and Sale’s Ongoing Impact
After an outstanding debut season with Atlanta, Chris Sale’s May 2025 performances reaffirm his status as one of baseball’s premier pitchers, even at age 36. His ongoing dominance offers the Braves a pitching anchor as they look for stability and success in the months ahead. While the team’s overall May results fluctuated, Sale’s achievements provide hope for sustained competitiveness and highlight the potential for strong postseason aspirations if he continues on this trajectory.