Cristopher Sánchez has been a pleasant bright spot for the Philadelphia Phillies across the last two seasons, especially his breakout season this year. Sánchez was acquired by the Phillies from the Tampa Bay Rays on Nov. 20, 2019, for second baseman Curtis Mead, a trade that worked out quite well for the Phillies.
Sánchez is having a career year in 2024. He was named to the first All-Star Game of his career, and he signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract extension in June. The left-hander is 10-9 with a 3.45 ERA this season.
Cristopher Sánchez looks like he’s back at just the right time for the Phillies
Sánchez hit a little speed bump after being a top candidate for the National League Cy Young Award through June. The 27-year-old threw the first complete game shutout of his career against the Miami Marlins on June 28 which dropped his ERA to 2.41 at the time. He allowed seven earned runs and only made it through four innings in his next start on July 4 against the Chicago Cubs.
In his seven starts after his complete game against the Marlins, Sánchez allowed 53 hits, 28 earned runs and couldn’t make it past six innings in any of those starts. Sánchez fell into a slump much like the rest of the team at the time, and saw his ERA jump from 2.41 to 3.63.
It looks as though Sánchez has regained his dominant form from earlier in the season after his last four starts. He threw his second complete game of the season on Aug. 17 against the Washington Nationals, allowing just two hits and one run which came off a solo home run. He allowed seven earned runs and struck out 23 batters in 18 2/3 innings in his following three starts.
Sánchez is at his best when he’s getting ground ball outs. He’s not a dominant strikeout pitcher, but he will generate swings and misses from time to time.
It’s worth noting that Sánchez typically relies on a mid-90s sinker, and he’s at his best when that pitch is working for him. His sinker has jumped up over his last four starts averaging at 94.9 mph, including a season-high 95.9 mph average in his previous start.
Sánchez looks like he’s back to pitching at a Cy Young level at just the right time as the Phillies prepare to make a run in the postseason.