Christopher Sale: Everything you need to know

Sale (6-3) took the loss against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing an unearned run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over six innings. Sale was excellent Thursday, with the only run against him coming as the result of an error in a hitless sixth inning. However, Atlanta's offense was shut down by five Chicago pitchers, so that unearned run was enough to tag Sale with his second straight defeat. Despite the loss, Sale lowered his ERA to a sterling 1.96, which ranks ninth in MLB among qualified starters. The veteran lefty has complemented that excellent mark with a 0.91 WHIP (seventh-best) and 64 strikeouts (tied for fifth-most) over 55 innings spanning nine starts.

Sale (6-2) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven innings, taking the loss versus the Dodgers on Friday. Sale's four-start winning streak came to an end in this battle between early leaders in the National League this season. This was also just the second time in eight starts Sale has given up more than one run, with both of those instances coming in Southern California. Sale has a dominant 2.20 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 56:12 K:BB across 49 innings over eight starts this season. The southpaw will look to bounce back in his next start, which is projected to be at home versus the Cubs.

Sale (6-1) earned the win Saturday against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and three walks in seven innings. He struck out 11. Facing a tough assignment in Colorado, Sale delivered perhaps his best start of the season thus far. The 37-year-old southpaw fanned a season-high 11 on Saturday, tied a season most in innings and submitted his sixth start of the year with at least six frames while giving up one run or zero. Sale has a stellar 2.14 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 49:12 over 42 innings, but a daunting task in Los Angeles against the Dodgers is on tap for his next outing.