Chris Sale Is 37 and Throwing Harder. His Explanation Is Perfect.

Chris Sale is 37 years old, has dealt with more arm trouble than most pitchers see in a lifetime, and somehow his fastball is sitting at 98-99 mph this season. That doesn’t happen by accident. But according to Sale, there’s a simple reason for the uptick in velocity.

“I gotta let ’em know the old man’s still got it,” Sale said, according to Rob Friedman (better known as Pitching Ninja on social media). The quote came with a laugh, but the numbers behind it are no joke.

This year, Sale is 9-6 with a 2.20 ERA across 17 starts for the Atlanta Braves. His stuff looks as sharp as it did during his Cy Young-caliber 2024 season, when he went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA. Even last year, when he made only 20 starts, he posted a 2.58 ERA. The difference now? He’s touching triple digits more often.

Velocity spike at 37? That’s not supposed to happen

Most pitchers lose a tick or two as they age. Sale has gained one. After multiple seasons spent fighting injuries — everything from shoulder soreness to a broken wrist to Tommy John surgery — his career looked like it might be winding down. Instead, he’s having a second act that few saw coming.

The Braves are sitting in first place in the NL East, but their rotation has had some shaky spots this year. Max Fried left in free agency. Spencer Strider is still working his way back from elbow surgery. So Sale’s emergence as the reliable, overpowering ace has been a lifeline for a team that expects to play deep into October.

Atlanta might still look for another starter before the trade deadline, but they’re not desperate the way they might be without Sale holding down the top spot.

Sale believes this team can win it all again

He already has a World Series ring from 2018 with Boston. But he’s said publicly he thinks this Braves group has the same kind of potential. If he stays healthy and keeps throwing hard, he gives Atlanta a legitimate chance to make noise in the postseason.

The second half of the season starts now, and Sale gets the ball in the first game back. The Braves need to hold off the Phillies, who have been breathing down their necks. Sale’s velocity — and that sly little “old man” comment — suggest he’s ready for the challenge.

Whether he keeps hitting 99 mph in September is another question. But for now, the guy who was supposed to be past his prime is throwing harder than ever. And he’s having fun letting everyone know it.