Not only did Philadelphia Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez get passed over for an All-Star spot and finish second in the National League Cy Young voting, but he also somehow missed the mark for the First Team's pitching rotation when the All-MLB Teams were announced on Thursday.
In just the latest of snubs for Sánchez, he was named to the All-MLB Second Team alongside teammates Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler. He can at least remember that the Phillies appreciated the workhorse mentality he took on as the team's ace, especially once Wheeler went down.
The worst part about Sanchez being left off the All-MLB First Team was who made it ahead of him.
Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez snubbed from All-MLB First Team for ... Max Fried?
The majority of the All-MLB First Team are undeniably deserving to be named a part of the crew. However, one name that raises alarm bells, especially for Phillies fans, was New York Yankees lefty Max Fried.
While Fried is a dominant starter, when comparing their 2025 seasons, the only stat he has over Sánchez is his overall record. Fried went 19-5, while Sánchez went 13-5. That's by no means a reflection on Sánchez, considering the Phillies bullpen was one of the worst in the majors.
When looking at every other stat between these two, Sánchez had Fried beat. They both made 32 starts but the Phillies lefty threw more innings (202 to 195 1/3), recorded more strikeouts (212 to 189) with a higher strikeout rate (26.3 percent to 23.6 percent), had fewer walks (44 to 51) with a lower walk rate (5.5 percent to 6.4 percent), and posted a better ERA (2.50 to 2.86).
Sánchez was undoubtedly more valuable to his team, finishing the year with 8.0 bWAR. That was the highest among pitchers and second-highest in the majors behind only Aaron Judge. Fried didn't even finish in the top 10 at 4.4 bWAR.
Cristopher Sanchez's All-MLB Team snub not the first instance this season
In case you need a reminder, Sánchez was snubbed after his invitation to the All-Star Game seemingly got lost in the mail. With a 7-2 record at the time and a 2.59 ERA with 116 strikeouts, it seemed like Sánchez's destiny was to receive his second All-Star nod in two years. He wasn't even named as the next replacement after Wheeler bowed out.
Eventually, Sánchez got offered a spot to represent the NL. However, with his pitching schedule Sánchez declined but the Phillies still honored his All-Star bonus (subscription required). He instead chose to ride the momentum of his success into the second half with the NL Cy Young Award and other accolades potentially on the horizon.
Phillies pitchers have gotten accustomed to being snubbed, with Sánchez now the second Phillies pitcher to finish second in the Cy Young voting in the past five years (Wheeler was runner-up in 2021 and 2024). It's becoming obscene how little the team's dominant pitching staff is truly acknowledged.
Sure, it's great to see Sánchez and Wheeler alongside one another, as they're expected to be until the latter retires. However, with how Sánchez rose to the occasion of being the team's ace this year, it seems this snub is just another notch in his belt as he trys to carve out his place among MLB's favorite hurlers.