Chris Sale entered the 2025 MLB season riding high after winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2024. The Atlanta Braves, as well as fans and analysts across the league, had every reason to expect big things from the veteran left-hander. While few anticipated he would perfectly replicate his award-winning campaign, the assumption was that he’d still perform like a top-tier starter — especially since all signs pointed to Sale finally being fully healthy.
But that’s not how things have played out.
A Sluggish Start to a Critical Season
Instead of anchoring the Braves’ rotation, Sale has gotten off to a rocky and inconsistent start in 2025. His struggles have been noticeable and frustrating — not just for the Braves, but for Sale himself. In a moment of raw honesty, Sale told reporters, “I just hate sucking, and I’m just bad.” That may be an exaggeration, but the numbers do reveal that the 35-year-old southpaw is far from his usual form.
Sale hasn’t been a total disaster, but he’s nowhere near the dominant presence he was a year ago. The primary concerns? A dip in fastball velocity, a cratering changeup, and lingering mechanical issues that don’t have a clear fix.
Mechanical Flaws Are Disrupting His Delivery
The core of Sale’s current troubles appears to stem from a breakdown in mechanics, particularly with his arm angle. When Sale is at his best, he has a distinct, whip-like delivery that creates deception and makes his pitches incredibly tough to pick up — especially for left-handed hitters. But in 2025, something is off.
Whether it’s fatigue, overcompensation for past injuries, or just a run-of-the-mill slump, Sale’s delivery has become inconsistent. The arm angle has dropped ever so slightly, but enough to impact the movement and effectiveness of his pitches.
That change has created ripple effects across his arsenal, particularly hurting two of his key pitches — the fastball and the changeup.
The Fastball: From Middling to Miserable
Historically, Sale’s four-seam fastball hasn’t been overpowering in terms of velocity, but it’s been effective when paired with his elite offspeed stuff — especially his signature slider. In 2024, he averaged around 94.8 mph on the heater and held opponents to a .271 average against it.
In 2025, the story is much different. Sale’s average fastball velocity has dipped slightly to 94.3 mph, which on its own might not raise major alarm bells. But opposing hitters are absolutely crushing the pitch this season, batting .516 against it. That’s not just bad — that’s one of the worst-performing fastballs in the league.
The pitch lacks the late life and deceptive spin it had last year, which could be tied to the arm angle issue. It’s coming out of his hand a little flatter, a little slower, and hitters are seeing it better.
The Changeup: A Key Weapon Turned Liability
Even more troubling than the fastball decline is what’s happened to Sale’s changeup. In 2024, the changeup emerged as a quiet strength in his repertoire. It ranked in the 98th percentile in MLB, giving right-handed hitters a new look and playing off the fastball and slider beautifully.
This year, the pitch has regressed significantly. Opponents are hitting .316 and slugging .579 against it. What was once a sneaky out-pitch has become a liability, with hitters sitting on it and driving it with ease.
That’s a huge problem for Sale — and by extension, for the Braves. If his changeup isn’t working, he can’t keep hitters off balance. That makes his slider more predictable and puts even more pressure on a declining fastball.
What’s the Fix?
Sale and the Braves’ coaching staff are undoubtedly working behind the scenes to get things back on track. But the issues at play here aren’t necessarily easy to solve. Adjusting a pitcher’s arm slot midseason is no small task, especially for someone with as much mileage and injury history as Sale.
That said, Sale is as competitive as they come. He’s aware of the issues, he’s being open about them, and he’s clearly motivated to fix them. Tinkering with his mechanics to raise his arm angle, refining his grip or release point on the changeup, or rethinking pitch sequencing could all be part of the solution.
More rest might also help. It’s possible the Braves may need to consider skipping a start or giving Sale extra days to help him reset physically and mentally.
Bigger Picture: Atlanta Needs a Healthy, Effective Sale
The Braves entered 2025 with serious World Series aspirations. Their roster is deep and talented, but their rotation hinges on having Sale at or near the top of his game. If he continues to struggle, the team may be forced to lean more heavily on younger arms or make a move at the trade deadline to reinforce the pitching staff.
There’s still time for Sale to turn things around. Even with diminished velocity, his slider is still dangerous, and a few tweaks could restore enough effectiveness to his changeup and fastball to make him a reliable second or third starter again. The key is whether he — and the Braves — can diagnose and correct the mechanical issues quickly enough to salvage his season.
Final Word
Chris Sale’s 2025 season isn’t beyond saving, but it’s teetering on the edge. For now, the Cy Young winner looks more like a back-end starter than the ace Atlanta hoped for. That’s a tough blow for a team with championship hopes, but Sale has been counted out before and always found a way back.
If anyone can rebound, it’s a guy who has battled through Tommy John surgery, multiple setbacks, and nearly five years of doubt — and still came out the other side with one of the best seasons of his career.
The Braves will be hoping he can do it again.
Leave a Reply