The Atlanta Braves made the playoffs despite losing superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. to injury. One of the big reasons was Chris Sale.

The 35-year-old sidearm-throwing left-hander won the National League Cy Young Award, picking up 26 of the 30 first-place votes.

Sale won the “Pitching Triple Crown” by leading the National League with 18 wins, 225 strikeouts, and a 2.38 ERA.

Sale underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020, and he slowly recovered with the Boston Red Sox before the Braves traded for him in 2023.

This year, Sale anchored the Atlanta pitching staff and led the Braves to 89 wins and a playoff berth.

Sale’s outstanding season also earned him the Comeback Player of the Year award last week.

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Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies picked up the other four first-place votes and finished second in the voting.  He was 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA.

Third place went to 22-year-old Paul Skenes, the fireballing Pittsburgh Pirates starter, who won the Rookie of the Year award.

Dylan Cease of San Diego finished fourth, which Cubs starter Shoto Imanaga took fifth place in his first big-league season.