It’s been a whirlwind season for Cristopher Sánchez, and even that might not capture it all. In late June, he signed a life-changing contract extension. A few weeks later, he was named National League Pitcher of the Month. By July, he became an All-Star. Then, just this past Monday, Sánchez and his wife welcomed their first child, a baby boy. Now, he’s set to take the mound for Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.
And it’s a must-win. The Phillies trail the Mets 1-0 in the best-of-five series, and falling into a two-game hole would make their path to the NLCS extremely difficult.
“There’s nothing better than coming home to my kid right now,” Sánchez said Saturday through an interpreter. “I’m spending every moment with him, holding him every five minutes. It’s something I can’t even describe.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson opted for Sánchez over Aaron Nola for this crucial start, pointing to the left-hander's dominance at Citizens Bank Park. Sánchez has thrived at home, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.21 ERA over 17 starts. In the last 40 years, only three Phillies pitchers have matched or bettered that home ERA in a full season (minimum 15 starts): Cliff Lee (1.94 in 2011), Roy Halladay (2.21 in 2010), and Curt Schilling (2.21 in 1992).
But Sánchez’s numbers on the road tell a different story: a 4-6 record with a 5.02 ERA in 14 appearances away from Philadelphia.
“I just feel really comfortable here, and the fans give me the confidence to be a better pitcher at home,” Sánchez said.
That comfort will be critical as the Phillies try to rebound from Saturday’s 6-2 Game 1 loss, where the offense was stifled for seven innings, squandering a strong start from Zack Wheeler.
The Mets will send veteran right-hander Luis Severino to the mound for Game 2. In 12 postseason appearances, Severino has struggled, with a 5.07 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.
“I feel like from the first inning through the seventh inning, it was really hard to see the baseball,” Nick Castellanos said, explaining the lack of offensive production on Saturday. “I think it was the same for both sides. What, did we have three hits through the first seven innings? After the sun went down, we saw better at-bats.”
The problem? Sunday’s forecast mirrors Saturday’s, meaning the shadows could again be an issue.
“We got a little practice today,” Trea Turner said of the challenging conditions. “Sometimes you see the ball better or worse depending on the pitcher, but you don’t always know what to expect. You just have to grind it out. It’s not fun, but they’re dealing with the same thing. I’ve played a lot of 4 o’clock postseason games, and shadows are always part of it. One team wins, so we just have to find a way.”
Turner’s right. If they don’t, the Phillies could be staring at the brink of elimination.
