Atlanta Braves star pitcher Chris Sale is one of the best in baseball, and he showed why on Wednesday. The 37-year-old allowed just one run on one hit over six innings in a 5-1 win over the Athletics despite dealing with an illness. 

Braves manager Walt Weiss revealed that the team didn't expect Sale to pitch deep into the game, via ESPN.

"He was sick as a dog," he said. "We didn't even know if he was going to be able to make that start. I was hoping to get three innings out of him. In the best-case scenario, maybe four."

Sale not only lasted longer than that, but he also dominated. The nine-time All-Star retired the first 11 hitters he faced before Shea Langeliers hit a solo homer to left in the top of the fourth inning. He then retired the next seven batters to finish his outing.

Sale didn't have his typical control and velocity during pregame warmups, but he succeeded by pitching to contact during the game. Other than the homer, the 2024 NL Cy Young Award-winner only allowed one line drive despite striking out just three hitters.

"He couldn't keep anything down. He was a mess," Weiss said about Sale's pregame condition. "It was touch and go before the game. But true to form, he takes the ball and goes out there and gives us six innings with one hit. Hall of Famers, they just operate differently. That's what he is. It was an unbelievable performance considering the circumstances."

Sale notched just 21 outings (20 starts) last season due to a fractured rib cage, but that's not hampering him anymore. The three-time MLB strikeout leader is now 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA through two starts this season. He kicked off the campaign with a six-inning shutout against the Kansas City Royals in Friday's Opening Day matchup, which Atlanta won 6-0. 

Two starts aren't significant in the context of an entire season, but Sale is pitching like he did when he won Cy Young honors in 2024. The southpaw went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA over 29 starts that year and won the pitching Triple Crown (wins, strikeouts, ERA). He logged 225 strikeouts and a 1.01 WHIP.

There's no telling how far the Braves could go if Sale stays healthy and maintains this form. They finished second in the NL East in 2024 before getting swept by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Round, but star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. only played 49 games. They've never had both players healthy for an entire season, as Sale didn't pitch for them until 2024. However, they are available now after injury-marred 2025 campaigns.

Up next for Atlanta is a road trip to face the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels.