ARIZONA, USA — When the Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2023 season, one spot that was unclear on the roster was the fifth spot in its starting rotation.
In Spring Training, the team had hoped top prospect pitcher Andrew Painter would seize the role, but unfortunately, Painter required Tommy John Surgery, and forced the Phillies to look towards their depth.
One of the options included left-hander Cristopher Sanchez.
At this point in his career, Sanchez, 26, had shuttled between the Major and Minor Leagues while struggling with his command at times.
However, it was the left-hander Sanchez's job to lose, and he made his season debut and first start on April 22, helping the team earn a win against the Colorado Rockies.
It was the beginning of a magical run for Sanchez, as 2023 was a career year in which he started 19 games and pitched to a 3.44 ERA in 99.1 innings.
Sanchez struck out 96 batters over that time, nearly punching out a batter an inning.
Ultimately, Sanchez proved to be just what the Phillies needed, providing innings and depth at a spot where the team was weak.
Entering the postseason, the Phillies began to transition Sanchez to the bullpen, as they wouldn't need a fourth starter for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
However, entering the National League Championship Series, it became apparent the team would need a fourth starting pitcher, and the choice came between Sanchez and Taijuan Walker, who had won a team-high 15 games during the regular season.
Whether it was due to Walker's first inning struggles or just belief in Sanchez, Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced that the team would go with the left-hander on Friday night at Chase Field.
Thomson told the media, "He's been throwing the ball very well. I know there's a lot of right-handers in that lineup, but I have a lot of confidence in him."
Due to it being Sanchez's first start in a month, the team is likely to move quickly to the bullpen if he shows signs of fatigue.
However, Sanchez believes he will be up for the challenge.
"I'll be ready tomorrow," Sanchez told members of the media after the Game 3 loss:
On the other side, Arizona will be going with a "bullpen game," meaning the team plans to march a number of relievers to the mound to get through Game 4 on Friday.
The Phillies lead the series 2-1.
First pitch is set for 8:07 p.m. on TBS.