The Philadelphia Phillies' projected five-man starting rotation has generated a lot of buzz recently among baseball insiders who believe the Phillies currently have one of the best rotations in MLB entering the 2025 regular season. That was evidenced recently by Matt Snyder of CBS Sports naming the Phillies the second-best rotation in MLB in his latest preseason power rankings.
It goes without saying that if Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo remain healthy and pitch to expectations, this is a pitching staff that has a chance to be one of the most dominant in team history. And with top pitching prospect Andrew Painter likely to make his MLB debut at some point following the All-Star break, a six-man rotation down the stretch run could make facing the Phillies the stuff of nightmares for rival ball clubs later this summer.
But the Phillies will only go as far as the middle of the rotation takes them. Following first-time All-Star selections for Sánchez and Suárez, the duo will be tasked with trying to show that last year's success was no accident, and that the pair is ready to build on breakout seasons with an even better showing in 2025. While Suárez is entering his final season ahead of free agency and will be motivated to prove he can stay healthy and effective for a full season, it's Sánchez who a growing list of baseball insiders believe will be even better on the mound this year.
Phillies’ lefty Cristopher Sánchez finally getting national recognition with early spring success
Sánchez opened some eyes last season when he proved to be an effective starting pitcher after bouncing between the bullpen and starting rotation over his first three major league seasons. And rightfully so, after the southpaw started a career-high 31 games for the Phillies in 2024, earning a record of 11-9, a healthy 3.32 ERA, while also reaching career highs in strikeouts (153) and innings pitched (181 2/3).
After beginning the spring with a solid 2.35 ERA, with twelve strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings, Sánchez has also showcased a massive gain in velocity (clocked at 99 mph this spring), and according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, MLB scouts from other organizations have started to take notice (subscription required).
"Players aren't supposed to make this list twice, and yet here is Sánchez, coming off an All-Star appearance and 181⅔ innings of 3.32 ERA ball, and showing signs of besting that," wrote Passan. "Sánchez's average sinker velocity last season was 94.5 mph; in his first start this spring, he sat 96 to 99, the product of added weight on his 6-foot-5 frame."
Please enjoy all four Ks from Sanchie's day pic.twitter.com/7Dfj2dWm5Y
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 7, 2025
Sánchez's velocity has been noticeably ticking upward over the last few seasons, and with his sinker now touching 99 mph, he has another potential weapon to pair with a changeup that registered a 30.7 strikeout percentage and resulted in ground ball outs 63.4 percent of the time last season. But Passan mentions a refined cutter that Sánchez is working on as well, and believes the addition of a third pitch will make the lefty a tougher at-bat in 2025.
"He's got a new cutter, too, and with his fastball now in Tarik Skubal/Cole Ragans territory, the cutter to neutralize right-handed hitters and one of baseball's most dastardly changeups, he's primed to join them among the best left-handed pitchers in baseball," added Passan. "As part of a rotation that already includes Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and the newly acquired Jesus Luzardo, an even-better Sánchez is frightening for the rest of the NL East."
While Sánchez will be tasked with living up to Passan's worthy praise once the season starts, its hard not to be excited at the notion that the recently-extended southpaw will be even more dominant this season. If the Phillies want to contend for an NL East pennant and World Series title again in 2025, a lot will depend on whether Sánchez can follow up his breakout 2024 with another All-Star-worthy campaign this season.