The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t been strangers to Cy Young voting. Starting pitching has been a strength of the team for the last few years, and that was the case again in 2025.
Whether it’s been Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola or Cristopher Sánchez, the Phillies have had legitimate Cy Young candidates for quite some time. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the team will likely feature the NL Cy Young runner-up for the second consecutive season.
Matt Strahm makes case for Cristopher Sánchez’s Cy Young odds
Wheeler finished in second place in last year’s NL Cy Young voting behind Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale. Wheeler was in the mix for the award this season before landing on the IL with a season-ending thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis that required surgery.
With Wheeler out, Sánchez has become a top-two candidate for the 2025 NL Cy Young Award. The only man standing in his way is Pittsburgh Pirates second-year starter Paul Skenes.
Although Skenes is the heavy favorite to win his first career Cy Young Award, Sánchez deserves serious consideration. The Phillies’ southpaw has turned into one of the best starting pitchers, not only in the NL, but in Major League Baseball.
Phillies reliever Matt Strahm hasn’t shied away from supporting his teammate in this year’s NL Cy Young race. The 2024 All-Star took to X on Monday morning to express who he thinks should be the real NL Cy Young this year.
"How is the WAR leader in the NL projected to finish second in cy young? Is WAR dead already?" Strahm posted.
How is the WAR leader in the NL projected to finish second in cy young? Is WAR dead already? #SanchezMVP
— Matt Strahm (@MattStrahm) September 29, 2025
Sánchez tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings in the Phillies’ regular-season finale against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. He capped off an impressive season in which he owned a 13-5 record with a 2.50 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 32 starts.
Finishes the season leading the NL in WAR*
— Matt Strahm (@MattStrahm) September 29, 2025
Sánchez’s 8.0 bWAR in 2025 was the highest in the NL among all players, not just starting pitchers. The last two starting pitchers, excluding Shohei Ohtani, to lead their respective league with an 8.0 bWAR or higher went on to be named Cy Young by a fairly significant margin.
Skenes had a remarkable season, owning a 10-10 record with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 32 starts. The 23-year-old deserves the Cy Young Award, but Sánchez’s numbers compare well with Skenes'.
Cy Young or not, Sánchez has helped the Phillies get to where they’re at and will play a big role in the team’s pursuit of a World Series championship.