Why Cristopher Sánchez is available out of the bullpen for Tuesday’s game

SAN DIEGO — If the Phillies are in need of innings, Cristopher Sánchez is going to be the guy tonight.

The Phillies left-handed starter is available out of the bullpen for one night only — for now. Rob Thomson reiterated that it’s an emergency situation only and not an audition for a potential new role for the playoffs.

Tuesday was Sánchez’s scheduled bullpen session day.

“If we didn’t need it, I’m not to the point where I want to see him out of the bullpen,” Thomson said before Tuesday’s game against the Padres in San Diego.

Sánchez has not pitched since Aug. 30 against the Angels, where he gave up five runs (three earned) on seven hits across 4 2/3 innings. He was originally scheduled to start Wednesday in the series finale against the Padres, but the Phillies shifted him to Friday at home against the Marlins to keep Zack Wheeler on regular rest, something Wheeler prefers.

It’s a creative solution for a temporary problem. Thomson and the Phillies are typically at the point in the season where it’s OK to let the guard rails down and use a reliever three days in a row, but the pitchers who could be used three days in a row have looked vulnerable in recent outings. Both Craig Kimbrel and José Alvarado walked the first two batters they faced in their outings on Monday. Jeff Hoffman has looked great, but he has pitched in three out of the last four days. Thomson could prefer to stay away from him.

Maybe this isn’t the last time Sánchez could be available out of the bullpen this year. The Phillies plan to stick with a six-man rotation until at least the scheduled Sept. 11 doubleheader against the Braves.

The Phillies could move away from the six-man rotation as early as the beginning of the St. Louis series on Sept. 15. That could be the time where the Phillies start using some of their starters in more experimental roles for the purposes of planning for the playoffs.

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