That’s not the sentence anyone in Philadelphia expected to read back in April, when Zack Wheeler was still the ace and the postseason rotation looked obvious. But with Wheeler lost for the season, it’s Sánchez who has become the man the Phillies can’t live without.And Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, against a Marlins team that’s somehow still breathing, the Phils will hand him the ball in a game that doubles as a postseason dress rehearsal.
Sánchez (13-5, 2.66 ERA) isn’t just finishing off a breakout season. He’s barreling toward the top of the Cy Young voting. More important than any award, though, is the reality that the Phillies have rearranged their September rotation so their new No. 1 can line up for Game 1 of the playoffs — with room for one more tune-up Sunday if the standings demand it.
He hasn’t always been perfect. Last week in L.A., he gave up four runs to the Dodgers before settling down for seven innings. But his dominance of Miami has been real — a 3-0 record, 1.27 ERA in his career, and two lights-out starts already this season.
Meanwhile, the Phils come home from a .500 road trip (3-3), capped by a 9-2 thumping in Arizona. The bright spot was Alec Bohm’s 4-for-4 day Sunday in just his second series back from a shoulder injury. “When Bohm is locked in, he changes the entire lineup,” Bryce Harper said.
And that lineup is now four wins better than the Dodgers (92-64 vs. 88-68) in the race for the second NL bye. “I want to clinch the bye, for sure,” Harper said. “That’s the biggest thing for all of us.”
Miami (76-80) arrives hot, winners of six straight, though their playoff odds are still under one percent. They’ll try Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.57 ERA), who hasn’t pitched in a month because of an elbow issue and struggled in three of his last four outings before landing on the shelf. His lone start against the Phillies this year was a tough-luck 2-1 loss on June 19, when he gave up just two hits in 6⅓ innings.
So the stage is set: a Cy Young candidate who’s suddenly the most indispensable pitcher in town, a chance to slam the door on the Dodgers’ pursuit of the bye, and a reminder that October is only a week away.
Pitching Matchups
Tuesday: LHP Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.66) vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.57)
Wednesday: LHP Jesus Luzardo (14-7, 4.08) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers (2-1, 3.21)
Thursday: TBD vs. RHP Janson Junk (6-3,4.27)
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