Where Cristopher Sánchez's current run with Phillies ranks in MLB history

Few Major League teams have an all-time starters lineage that can rival Philadelphia’s. The Phillies’ annals are rife with Hall of Fame names who’ve donned the red and white pinstripes: Jim Bunning, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Steve Carlton, Roy Halladay, Robin Roberts.

Even in recent years, Philadelphia’s starting platoon has featured some of the best in the business — Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Zack Wheeler. But none have strung together a streak quite like lefty ace Cristopher Sánchez.

In Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres, Sánchez steamrolled through San Diego’s star-studded lineup, going seven scoreless innings while striking out nine batters. In doing so, he supplanted Alexander’s 115-year-old mark for consecutive scoreless innings with 44 2/3 (Alexander reached 41 during his rookie season in 1911).

April showers have bloomed into May flowers for Sánchez, who’s been spotless in the latter month after three of his starts in April lasted fewer than six innings (including one in which he surrendered six runs). 

“It was incredible,” Sánchez told MLB.com following Wednesday’s game. “It's really special what we have here as a group, as an organization as a whole -- the players, the staff, the medical staff. So it's just really special to share things like this with this tremendous group that we have here.” 

Special as it was for the Phillies franchise, Sánchez is quickly climbing up baseball’s all-time ranks in the category, with sights set on MLB history. 

Cristopher Sánchez ranks seventh all-time in consecutive single-season scoreless innings

*An important note: this is for the Live Ball Era, which began in 1920.

Sánchez’s 44 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings puts him just 1/3 of an inning behind Sal Maglie’s 1950 mark, per MLB.com's Sarah Langs. He needs another 1/3 to match Carl Hubbell’s 1933 number, and 14 1/3 to tie Orel Hershiser’s all-time record, set in 1988.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Sánchez has already matched Hershisher with another incredible feat: The pair are now the only two pitchers in the Live Ball era to post a scoreless month (minimum four starts), per MLB.

Sánchez and Hershisher are also two of six men with five consecutive scoreless starts (Doc White, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson, Brandon Webb — MLB). 

And he’s not just inducing ground balls, or forcing hitters to loft lazy fly balls. Sánchez is a strikeouts savant (just ask Manny Machado) and his 45 Ks in the month of Maymade him the second player since Chris Sale (2018) to record 45 Ks alongside zero runs allowed through five straight appearances (ESPN). 

“He’s been really good for quite a long time now,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told MLB.com, “When you're that consistent, you're going to start putting your name up there with those other guys. This is a very historic franchise, so any time you can be at the top of something here, I think it’s pretty special. He deserves it.” 

Team wins are the name of the game, but it’s optimally clear that Sánchez wants this record.

He beamed with pride as he watched Justin Crawford crash into the center-field wall after tracking down a long fly ball. He pumped his fist after recording the final out of his seven-inning masterpiece. And he gave his teammates a heartfelt speech filled with gratitude in the clubhouse following the win. 

And so begins the march towards history: 14 2/3 innings to go.

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