PHOENIX — Cristopher Sánchez isn’t a man of many words, but the 26-year-old lefty exudes a quiet confidence when he enters a room.
The Philadelphia Phillies will need that confidence to translate into a good outing Thursday evening, after the Arizona Diamondbacks won Game 3 of the NLCS. With the Phillies leading the series 2-1, they’ll turn to Sánchez to begin Game 4, manager Rob Thomson announced.
“I’m very focused on this start,” Sánchez said through interpreter Diego Ettedgui. “I’ve been working very hard for this, so I’m confident.”
Thomson explained why the Phillies elected to have Sánchez start the game, as opposed to Taijuan Walker or an opener like Matt Strahm.
“He has been throwing the ball very well, and I know there’s a lot of right-handers in that lineup. But I have a lot of confidence in him,” Thomson said. “I don’t know how far we’re going to be able to go with him, but he’s been pitching very well and throwing strikes, and I have a lot of confidence in him.”
As far as what happens after Sánchez exits the game, Thomson simply said “we’ll figure it out.”
Sánchez threw live batting practice back in Philadelphia, and had his most recent bullpen session Wednesday in Arizona. While he was on the roster for both the NLWCS and NLDS, Sánchez has yet to pitch this postseason. But when asked how he felt after the bullpen session, Sánchez was short and sweet.
“Everything’s fine,” Sánchez said in English.
OK, so how far into the game does Sánchez — who only threw an inning against the New York Mets on Sept. 30, his most recent appearance — believe he could go into the game?
“I’m just focused on competing on the mound,” Sánchez said, this time again through Ettedgui. “That’s it.”
After bouncing back-and-fourth between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Phillies in 2021 and 2022, Sánchez was a revelation in 2023. Across 99 1/3 innings pitched, Sánchez posted a 3.44 ERA and 3.99 FIP, allowing the Phillies to overcome the loss of No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter for the season and struggles from the since-traded Bailey Falter.
Entering 2023, it may have been fair to slap the dreaded “Quad-A” label on Sánchez. But with how well he performed during the regular season, he’s already put himself in position to open 2024 in the starting rotation for the Phillies.
Before that, he’ll get a chance to make a start with the Phillies just two wins away from the World Series. Sánchez’s most lengthy answer Wednesday evening came when he was asked to explain what it means that Thomson has trust in him to take the ball in Game 4.
“It’s hard to explain,” Sánchez said, via Ettedgui. “To be here with all my teammates, this situation is very special to me.”
As his media session wound down, Sánchez was asked if his family has traveled to Arizona to see him pitch. He answered yes, then, in English, delivered a mic drop.
“I’ll be ready tomorrow,” Sánchez said.
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