Cristopher Sánchez opens Game 1 of the Divisional Series with the Phillies

Philadelphia, USA The Philadelphia Phillies have confirmed that Dominican pitcher Cristopher Sánchez will be the starter for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This game will take place on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. This decision comes after the injury of Zack Wheeler, who was the ace of the rotation, thus opening the door for Sánchez to assume this important role. At 28 years old, the Dominican left-hander is experiencing the best moment of his career, establishing himself as one of the most outstanding pitchers in the National League. In the 2025 regular season, Sánchez stood out in several categories:

• Second in innings pitched (202)
• Third in effectiveness (2.50)
• Fourth in WHIP (1.06)
• Fifth in strikeouts (212)

These statistics positioned him as a strong contender for the Cy Young award. Sánchez’s rise has been remarkable. After debuting as a reliever and then establishing himself in the rotation, he was called up to his first All-Star Game in 2024. Now, a year later, he will lead the pitching in the postseason. The matchup against the Dodgers promises to be an exciting duel in the National League, with the Phillies looking to capitalize on their home advantage and the good performance of their Dominican starting pitcher to take the lead in the series.