The Philadelphia Phillies are heading into the upcoming season with a significantly stronger starting rotation, thanks to the acquisition of left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins in December. Luzardo joins an already impressive staff that includes Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez. With this revamped rotation, the Phillies now have one of the most formidable pitching staffs in MLB from top to bottom.
A major reason for optimism is the breakout performance from Cristopher Sánchez in 2024. The left-hander had a stellar All-Star-worthy campaign, finishing with an 11-9 record and setting career highs in strikeouts (153), starts (30), ERA (3.32), and K/9 (7.58). As Sánchez enters the final year of his contract before a four-year, $22.5 million extension kicks in for the 2025 season, there’s plenty of hope that he can continue to build on his success and deliver even better results moving forward.
Cristopher Sánchez must improve one key area to reach new heights in 2025
Cristopher Sánchez has been putting in significant work this offseason, focusing on adding a fourth pitch to his repertoire, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. The addition of another pitch would enhance Sánchez’s versatility and help him become a more complete pitcher. While the specifics of the pitch he’s working on remain unclear, he’ll need to carry over the increased confidence he showed on the mound last season to make this change effective.
A key area where Sánchez will need to improve is his performance on the road. While he was exceptional at Citizens Bank Park, posting a 2.21 ERA, his road numbers raised concerns. In 71 2/3 innings away from home, his ERA ballooned to 5.02, and opposing hitters posted a .307 batting average. Issues with walks and extra-base hits were factors contributing to his struggles on the road.
If Sánchez can fix his road issues, he’ll solidify his role as the No. 3 starter in a rotation that includes injury-prone Jesús Luzardo and a Ranger Suárez who dealt with health concerns in the second half of the 2024 season. Sánchez has the opportunity to cement his place in one of the National League’s strongest rotations.
Though last year’s road performance could be chalked up to a fluke, it remains a storyline to watch as the Phillies push for a postseason return in 2025.