The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the NL East with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, and the following night, they won the season series over Los Angeles, putting them in a great position to earn a first-round bye.
With a guaranteed spot in the postseason and the potential to earn a first-round bye, the Phillies’ starting rotation needs to be decided on come October. Normally, Zack Wheeler would be the game one starter. He’s out, so the Phillies need an alternative.
Before the Phillies’ win over the Dodgers on Tuesday night, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced who the Game 1 starter would be, as he made an expected decision without Wheeler as a choice.
Phillies select Game 1 starter for postseason series
“To the surprise of nobody,” March writes, “Cristopher Sanchez will be the Phillies Game 1 starter in the playoffs. Beyond that, Rob Thomson said it depends on the matchup.”
To the surprise of nobody, Cristopher Sánchez will be the Phillies’ Game 1 starter in the playoffs.
Beyond that, Rob Thomson said it depends on the matchup. He said he would not rule out using three lefty starters (Sánchez/Suárez/Luzardo) in a series.
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Sanchez, with Wheeler out for the year, was the clear choice to start Game 1 of a playoff series this October. Aaron Nola has had his bumps and bruises, while the rest of the rotation is more uncertain than Sanchez.
This season, despite being a major snub from the All-Star Game, Sanchez is a top Cy Young candidate in the NL. While Paul Skenes will almost certainly win the award, Sanchez has the numbers to back up his candidacy.
The 28-year-old, through 30 starts this season, has a 2.66 ERA with a 13-5 record and a remarkable 7.2 WAR. Across 189.1 innings pitched, the most in his career and the most by an NL pitcher in 2025, he has 198 strikeouts and 43 walks with 12 home runs allowed, two of which came in his most recent outing against the Dodgers.
Sanchez has a 167 ERA+, by far the highest of his five-year big league career. Since becoming a full-time starter for the Phillies in 2023, Sanchez has gotten better every year.
He had a 3.44 ERA in 2023 across 18 starts, and improved to a 3.32 ERA in 2024 over 31 starts. Sanchez has improved consistently in his career since becoming a full-time starter, and this season has been remarkable.
Sanchez has arguably the best changeup in baseball, and even with Wheeler out, Sanchez has led the Phillies’ rotation to being the best in baseball.
Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, and Nola will all be in consideration for the rest of the rotation this October, with the rotation depending on the matchups those pitchers will face.
If the Phillies can hold onto the first-round bye, their first game will be in the Divisional Series, likely against either the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, or the Chicago Cubs.
Even if the Phillies don’t have a bye, they will be the host to a Wild Card series, so Sanchez’s Game 1 start would come in Philadelphia, regardless of which seed the team gets.
