Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez has more complete games than a ridiculous number of MLB teams

It has already been a huge 2024 breakout year for Philadelphia Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez. In just his fourth season with the club, not only has Sánchez established himself as a mainstay in the rotation, but he was also named an All-Star for the first time ever in his career. Consequently, the Phillies quickly locked him down with a four-year extension so that he can continue his excellence with the team.

Sánchez was at his best once again this past Saturday against the Washington Nationals, tossing a complete game two-hitter in the Phillies’ 5-1 win. The complete game was actually his second one this season, after entering the year with zero on his resume over 46 career starts. His performance was so impressive that Phillies manager Rob Thomson had nothing but huge praise for his 27-year-old pitcher, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Brooke Destra.

"Sanchy was fantastic, he really was," Thomson said, per Destra. "Everything about his night — his command, his changeup, the sink on his fastball was unbelievable. Of the 27 outs, 19 were either on the ground or strikeouts. It was dominant."

Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez has more complete games than a ridiculous number of MLB teams

With his second nine-inning effort, Sánchez registered an impressive yet surprising stat. His two complete games mean that he single-handedly now has more complete games than a whopping 24 other MLB teams.

Outside of the Toronto Blue Jays (3), Kansas City Royals (2), Atlanta Braves (2), Houston Astros (2) and San Francisco Giants (2), every other team in the league has no more than one complete game from their starters in 2024. That helps put things into perspective on the rarity of Sánchez's feat.

His first complete game of the season came on June 28 when he shut out the Miami Marlins on just three hits while striking out nine. The most recent complete game bookends a tough stretch for the lefty, who had a 6.63 ERA in seven starts since shutting out Miami.

On the season, Sánchez has compiled a 9-8 record with a 3.46 ERA and 1.25 WHIP while leading all Phillies starters with the least number of home runs given up, with five over 140 1/3 innings pitched in 24 starts. He has also played a key role in stabilizing the rotation, with starters Ranger Suárez and Taijuan Walker spending time on the injured list with ailments.

Hopefully Sánchez will continue to set records for the Phillies, along with leading them to more success as they head into the final stretch of the season.