Cristopher Sánchez pitching way into All-Star Game consideration with continued excellence

Final: Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 1

Cristopher Sánchez has pitched well enough in 2024 that the Philadelphia Phillies rewarded him with a new contract Saturday. And even on a team with a ton of other candidates, Sánchez feels increasingly worthy of consideration to represent the Phillies in next month’s All-Star Game.

Sánchez took the ball for the Phillies Saturday morning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and despite a 91-degree first-pitch temperature that increased as the game went along, the 27-year-old was dominant. Across seven shutout innings, Sánchez allowed just three hits and struck out four.

Both the temperatures and the need to get José Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman work meant that manager Rob Thomson pulled Sánchez after seven innings. But considering Sánchez only threw 80 pitches, he very easily could have gone back out for the eighth inning.

On the season, Sánchez is now fourth among National League starters in WAR (2.6), second in ERA (2.67) and FIP (2.49) and first in home runs allowed (one).

On his staff alone, Ranger Suárez is all-but certain to be an All-Star, while Zack Wheeler has a strong case himself. The Phillies roster is loaded with potential, if not likely All-Stars: Alec Bohm, Bryce Harper, Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm all come to mind. But the resume that Sánchez is putting together is going to make it very difficult for him not to get the nod for the midsummer classic.

Highlights

• Brandon Marsh made a tremendous catch against the right-field wall to rob Christian Walker of extra bases, and potentially an RBI, ending the top of the first inning:

• Nick Castellanos got the scoring started for the Phillies in the bottom of the second inning, singling to plate Alec Bohm:

• In the bottom of the sixth inning, David Dahl extended the Phillies’ lead with a two-run single that scored Bryson Stott and Marsh:

• Stott added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning with an RBI single that scored Bryce Harper:

• Ketel Marte singled off of Hoffman in the ninth, scoring Geraldo Perdomo and ending the Phillies’ bid for a shutout.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Monday, June 24 vs. Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park
• 6:40 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
• Spanish radio: WTTM 1680

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