This week marked a turning point in Chris Sale’s quest for the 2024 American League Cy Young Award. He got a surprise endorsement from a famous co-finalist. Paul Skenes, the rookie player from the Pittsburgh Pirates, publicly acknowledged the Red Sox ace as the deserving champion for this season. Sale led the Boston Red Sox pitching staff in 2024 and was seen as a pioneer contender due to an impressive season.

He marked his strong performances with stats like a 2.67 ERA over 204 innings and 239 strikeouts, along with a leading 0.96 WHIP. It was reminiscent of his prime days in Chicago and early years in Boston. However, the competition for the Cy Young Award has been intense, as other standout pitchers are also making strong cases for themselves. Meanwhile, Skenes appreciating Chris Sale’s skills could add an interesting twist to the race for the top spot.

Chris Sale’s chances of winning Cy Young strengthened after public acknowledgment

Bob Nightingale USA, today’s MLB columnist posted on X “Paul Skenes says it’s nice to be considered but believes that Atlanta veteran Chris Sale will, and should, be the NL Cy Young Award winner.” While Sale’s extensive experience and steady performance have attracted notice, Skenes’ remarkable debut season as a rookie continues captivating audiences’ interest. At 22 years of age, he has topped all rookies in both strikeouts and innings pitched, solidifying his position as a core player for Pittsburgh.

Now, winning the Cy Young Award would be an achievement for Chris Sale, validating his resilience in overcoming the challenges he faced along the way. As for Skenes, acknowledging a rival’s greatness demonstrates his growth and deep reverence for the history of the game. The announcement of the voting outcome is scheduled for December.

The race between Sale and Skenes not only transcends statistics but also embodies a clash of different eras in baseball history. Chris Sale’s impressive comeback as a player and Skenes’ rapid ascent have been the defining narratives of the 2024 season. However, Skenes’ decision may have tilted the balance in favor of the left-handed star.

Dominance redefined: From injuries to excellence

Chris Sale’s career as a seven-time All-Star and 2018 World Series champion pitcher has been marked not only by his performance on the field but also by the challenges posed by injuries that could have jeopardized his path to success. After helping the Boston Red Sox secure victory in 2018, Sale faced a series of setbacks that seemed to threaten his career progression. After his shoulder problems in 2019, Chris underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020. He also missed a lot of time in the following two seasons because of continuous setbacks, including a wrist injury and a stress fracture in his ribcage.

When Sale eventually came back in 2023, it was tough for him to reach the level of performance that once made him one of the pitchers in the league. Many doubted if Chris Sale would ever be as good as before, but in 2024, though, he put those concerns to rest with a comeback season that will be remembered for years to come. “After everything I’ve been through—the surgeries, the setbacks, the bad outings—it was hard not to wonder if my best days were behind me,” Sale admitted earlier this season, noting, “But I never stopped believing I could get back to where I was.”

Chris Sale was in his element this season—topping the league in WHIP and coming in a second for strikeouts per nine innings truly speaks volumes about his skills and talent. His knack for switching between lightning fastballs and sharp breaking-off speed pitches left batters struggling to connect with the ball. No wonder opponents could only manage a meager .188 batting average against him. But Sale wasn’t only about his numbers; his leadership breathed life into Boston’s pitching lineup.

Sale’s teammates have also applauded mentorship; rising stars like Brayan Bello have attributed their growth to his invaluable support. If Chris Sale wins the 2024 Cy Young Award, it won’t just prove his dominance but also solidify his place among the great ones who triumphed over challenges to regain their status. Who do you think will win? Let us know below.