One of the best starts in Major League history has begun for Cristopher Sánchez.
Yes, the Phillies left-hander, who takes on the Mets on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, is putting up stats seldom seen at this level despite his infrequent error in his most recent outing.
Sánchez has 116 strikeouts in 99 innings this season with a 1.82 ERA through 15 starts. The only other pitchers in AL/NL history to match Sánchez’s ERA, strikeout, and innings totals through 15 starts in a season are listed below to put that into perspective:
- Justin Verlander (2018 Astros)
- Clayton Kershaw (2016 Dodgers)
- Max Scherzer (2015 Nationals)
- Pedro Martínez (2000 Red Sox)
- Randy Johnson (2000 D-backs)
- Pedro Martínez (1997 Expos)
- Dwight Gooden (1985 Mets)
- Steve Carlton (1980 Phillies)
- Sam McDowell (1968 Cleveland)
- Sandy Koufax (1966 Dodgers)
Clearly, that’s some pretty good company.
Therefore, Sánchez would probably be the front-runner to win his first National League Cy Young Award in almost any other season, but this isn’t any other season.
On Friday night, Brewers star Jacob Misiorowski pitched six innings of two-run ball against the Braves, raising his MLB-high ERA to 1.45. After 15 starts this season, he has 138 strikeouts in 93 innings.
So, in this year’s NL Cy Young contest, Sánchez finds himself looking up to Misiorowski, at least for the time being. In the previous year’s voting, Sánchez came in second to Pirates star Paul Skenes.
In terms of the Cy Young Award, Sánchez still has half the season to overtake Misiorowski, but not in terms of starting the All-Star Game.
There is not much time left for Sánchez to convince his hometown supporters that he should start for the NL side at the All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park.
“After all, who wouldn’t want to win a Cy Young? Who wouldn’t want to start or attend the All-Star Game? After his most recent excursion, Sánchez spoke through an interpreter. “But in the end, I just try to do my job as well as I can and take control of what I can.” Those decisions are out of my control.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is in charge of choosing who will start the NL All-Star Game. As the current pennant-winning captain, he will captain the NL All-Stars for the second consecutive season.
Starting on Saturday night against the Mets, Sánchez intends to make that choice at least somewhat more difficult over the coming weeks. The lefty, though, struggled against the Phillies’ archrival last season, compiling a 6.08 ERA over three starts against New York.
After giving up four runs in five and a third innings against the Brewers on Sunday, Sánchez is also coming off his worst start in almost two months. Sánchez let up just three runs across 53 innings (0.51 ERA) in his previous seven starts, but those four runs exceeded that total.
After that last expedition, Sánchez remarked, “Everything was off, especially my energy.”
On Saturday night, the Phillies star will try to get back on track.
