​PHILADELPHIA – Jesus Luzardo used physical characteristics to describe his first impression of rotation mate Cristopher Sanchez.”Big, strong lefty,” Luzardo said. “Blown away.”But the more time Luzardo has spent around Sanchez in the Philadelphia Phillies’ clubhouse and dugout, the more appreciation he has gained for the cerebral parts of Sanchez’s game. Reading opponents’ swings and takes is the subject of much of their conversation. In Luzardo’s view, the 6-foot-6, 29-year-old Sanchez is the real deal.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”Every time I see him, the impression gets better and better,” Luzardo said.Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) on the mound during the first inning during the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.Luzardo is not alone in his thinking. Sanchez’s reputation among his counterparts across Major League Baseball continues to rise. Seven years ago, he was a languishing minor leaguer who couldn’t hold a spot on Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster. Now, a co-ace of a perennial playoff team in Philadelphia, Sanchez is a bona fide star.Sanchez’s profile was already on the rise with an All-Star selection as a replacement player in 2024, two dominant postseason starts and a runner-up finish for the NL Cy Young Award in 2025. But starting the All-Star Game — only the sixth player to do so this century in his home park — represents his brightest national spotlight to date.1 / 30Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; A vendor sells the All-Star Game program before the All-Star Game July 14, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park.(Eric Hartline)The outing itself was far from ideal. Sanchez allowed three runs on three singles and two walks. After allowing an RBI single to New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, catcher Drake Baldwin visited the mound for a second time as St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien began to warm up in the bullpen.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSanchez ended the inning by getting Detroit Tigers’ Riley Greene to chase a changeup, leaving runners on first and second. He threw 34 pitches.It was an uncharacteristic outing for Sanchez, who has dominated at Citizens Bank Park. Over the past two seasons, he has a 2.54 ERA. At home, that drops to 1.48 (over 170⅔ innings). He has a 0.86 ERA in 11 home starts this year.”I love his demeanor,” Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper said.Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park on March 26, 2026 in Philadelphia.In an All-Star Game missing sluggers Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, as well as Cy Young contenders Jacob Misiorowski and Cam Schlittler, Sanchez was one of the biggest stars. In the lead-up to the game, opposing hitters weren’t shy with their praise.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”He’s not fun to face, for sure,” said Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, who went 0-for-3 against Sanchez at Citizens Bank Park on May 5. “It’s a real sinker. … He thro