Chris Sale and Walt Weiss named as finalists for 2026 BBWAA Awards

November 3, 2026

The Atlanta Braves are poised to make a strong showing at the 2026 BBWAA Awards, with two of their key figures named as finalists in major categories. Pitcher Chris Sale, now 37, has once again defied expectations by delivering another dominant season, posting a 2.16 ERA and 2.29 FIP over 162.2 innings in 27 starts.

His performance solidified his role as the Braves’ ace, marking two of his top-five career seasons in terms of fWAR during his tenure with Atlanta. Meanwhile, manager Walt Weiss earned recognition for his first full season leading the team, guiding the Braves to a 94-win campaign and an NL East title after a 76-win season the year prior.

His leadership helped turn around the franchise’s fortunes, securing a postseason berth and quieting doubts about the decision to promote him from within following Brian Snitker’s departure. The awards will be announced on November 10 (Manager of the Year) and November 11 (Cy Young), with Sale and Weiss both vying for hardware that would cap off a historic year for the Braves organization.