​A year ago, there was heated debate over why Cristopher Sanchez, the Philadelphia Phillies’ left-handed starter, wasn’t named to the All-Star team despite a resume that suggested he deserved a spot. Fast forward to the present, and not only is Sanchez part of the Midsummer Classic, but he has also earned a significant honor: he was officially named the starting pitcher for the National League on Sunday afternoon. He will square off against Dylan Cease, who will start for the American League on Tuesday evening.
It turned out beneficial for Sanchez that he didn’t pitch on Saturday or Sunday right before the All-Star break, leaving him fresh and ready to throw in the game itself. That timing issue was a major talking point in 2025 and helped explain why he didn’t make the roster in the first place. Of course, starting the All-Star Game is a major achievement, but doing so in front of his home crowd in Philadelphia, with All-Star weekend hosted by the city, makes it especially meaningful.
Dave Roberts, who will manage the National League team, clearly can’t wait to see Sanchez take the mound. “I think he deserves it. He’s the hometown ballplayer. I expect the city of Philly to enjoy watching and supporting him. I spoke with him this morning, along with Donnie and the pitching staff,” Roberts said.
The scene of the host team’s ace starting an All-Star Game is among the strongest storylines entering the event. Yet this is an honor Sanchez earned through steady excellence, not something handed to him. This season, the left-hander has established himself as one of baseball’s best pitchers. He enters the game with a 2.62 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a strikeout rate of 27.4 percent. His chase rate sits near 39 percent, and his whiff rate hovers around 32 percent. His early-season dominance was highlighted by a historic April in which he did not allow an earned run for the entire month.
How many pitches or innings Sanchez will throw on Tuesday remains to be seen. Regardless, having him start the All-Star Game will be a landmark moment for him personally and for the Phillies organization as a whole.
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