The Phillies have been clawing their way back in the NL East, sitting two games behind the Braves after a brutal start. And now they get a bonus that nobody saw coming a few months ago: one of their own will take the mound first in the All-Star Game, right in front of the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post broke the news Sunday afternoon. Cristopher Sanchez, the 28-year-old lefty who came up through the Phillies system, will be the National League’s starting pitcher on Tuesday night. That’s a big deal for a guy who wasn’t even a lock for the roster when the season started.
How Sanchez Earned the Nod
Sanchez has been quietly elite this year. With injuries piling up in the rotation — Zack Wheeler has been his usual dominant self but didn’t make the All-Star team, which still has fans furious — Sanchez held things together. He’s posted a 2.96 ERA over 18 starts, striking out 108 batters in 106 innings. Those aren’t flashy numbers, but they’re steady. And steady is exactly what the Phillies needed when their season looked like it might spiral early.
The Phillies stumbled out of the gate, going 12-12 in April and then losing 7 of 10 in early May. Sanchez was one of the few constants during that stretch. He gave them length, kept them in games, and slowly the lineup started to click. Now they’re within striking distance of Atlanta, and Sanchez is getting the ball first in the Midsummer Classic.
He won’t throw many pitches, probably an inning or two at most. That’s how these games go. But the moment matters. He’ll walk out to the mound in front of 43,000 people who mostly root for his team, and he’ll represent the National League. That’s not nothing.
The Wheeler Frustration Lingers
Let’s be real: a lot of Phillies fans are still pissed about Zack Wheeler being left off the All-Star roster entirely. Wheeler has a 2.74 ERA and 121 strikeouts. He’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball. But roster rules and a crowded field left him out. That stings. Sanchez starting won’t fix that, but it’s a decent consolation prize for a fanbase that loves its pitching staff.
Sanchez has already said he’s excited to pitch in front of the home crowd. He’s not the loudest guy in the clubhouse, but teammates say he’s been buzzing about it all week.
The All-Star Game is Tuesday night at 8 p.m. Eastern. Before that, the Phillies finish the first half with a road game Sunday against the Tigers. Then it’s a few days off, then the real push toward October starts. Sanchez will have a memory to carry with him into that second half.
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