Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Christopher Sánchez is quietly becoming one of the most effective, yet overlooked, pitchers in the 2023 MLB season. While the Phillies’ rotation has been anchored by bigger names like Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, Sánchez has stepped up as a reliable force in the rotation, providing much-needed depth. Despite his stellar performance, he’s remained under the radar—an unsung hero in a Phillies team with postseason aspirations.
One of the primary reasons for Sánchez’s success this season has been his exceptional command of the strike zone. The 26-year-old has significantly reduced his walk rate, an issue that plagued him earlier in his career. This newfound control has allowed him to keep hitters off base, preventing rallies and limiting damage.
Sánchez has improved his ability to pitch to contact, inducing weak ground balls and soft fly balls rather than giving up hard-hit balls. His ability to locate his pitches low in the strike zone, combined with his deceptive off-speed offerings, has been key to keeping batters guessing. As a result, he’s maintained a walk rate of fewer than two per nine innings, a crucial improvement for a pitcher in his position.
Sánchez’s pitch mix has also played a significant role in his underrated season. While his fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s, it’s his secondary offerings that have been most effective. His changeup, in particular, has emerged as a dominant weapon, consistently generating swings and misses from both left-handed and right-handed hitters. The contrast between his fastball and changeup has kept batters off balance, allowing Sánchez to generate a solid strikeout rate despite not being an overpowering pitcher.
In addition to the changeup, Sánchez’s slider has developed into a reliable secondary pitch, especially against left-handed batters. His ability to effectively use all parts of his repertoire has made him a more complete pitcher, capable of adjusting depending on the lineup he faces.
Home runs have been a problem for many pitchers across the league in the modern, power-heavy game, but Sánchez has managed to buck that trend. His home run rate is among the lowest for Phillies pitchers this season, a testament to his ability to limit damage. By keeping the ball on the ground and reducing the number of barrels allowed, Sánchez has been able to avoid the long ball, which has saved the Phillies in tight situations. His groundball-to-flyball ratio is one of the best in the rotation, highlighting his skill in keeping hitters from elevating the ball.
Another key aspect of Sánchez’s season has been his ability to eat innings for the Phillies, an often undervalued skill in modern baseball. With other pitchers in the rotation experiencing fatigue or inconsistency, Sánchez has often stepped up and pitched deep into games. His ability to work into the 6th or 7th inning regularly has been a lifesaver for a Phillies bullpen that has been taxed at various points in the season.
Sánchez’s efficiency on the mound allows him to keep his pitch count low, often working through innings with minimal pitches. This ability to be efficient has made him a key part of the Phillies’ strategy, giving them an opportunity to rest their high-leverage relievers for more critical situations.
Despite all these contributions, Sánchez has largely flown under the radar. His profile isn’t as high as teammates like Wheeler, Nola, or even the electrifying newcomer Taijuan Walker. Much of this is due to Sánchez’s unassuming role as a back-end starter or occasional spot starter early in the season, positions that often don’t generate much attention. However, as the season has progressed, his consistency and reliability have become increasingly valuable to the Phillies’ postseason run.
The Phillies’ starting rotation has been scrutinized throughout the year, but Sánchez’s emergence has been a silver lining. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that without his contributions, Philadelphia’s road to a playoff berth might be much more challenging. His ability to hold down the fort when the bigger names struggle or need rest has allowed the Phillies to maintain their momentum.
As the regular season winds down and the postseason looms, Christopher Sánchez could play an even bigger role. Should the Phillies make the playoffs, having a consistent, underrated arm like Sánchez’s could be a game-changer in a short series where every pitching appearance matters. His ability to stay calm in pressure situations, along with his newfound efficiency, makes him an asset that Philadelphia can’t afford to overlook.
Looking ahead, Sánchez may become a more prominent figure in the Phillies’ rotation beyond this season. His development throughout 2023 has shown that he has the potential to be more than just a back-end starter—he could evolve into a dependable middle-of-the-rotation piece or even more if his progression continues.
For now, as the Phillies march toward the postseason, Christopher Sánchez remains one of the most underrated contributors on the team. While he may not grab headlines, his impact on the mound has been undeniable, and the Phillies’ success in the months ahead could very well depend on his continued excellence.
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