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The Philadelphia Phillies are taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Philadelphia has home-field advantage, so Game 1 is in Philly. The Phillies are starting their World Series chase at home.
Zack Wheeler was supposed to pitch, but he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and is out for the season. Cristopher Sanchez will take his place on the mound for Game 1.
Before the game, Wheeler asked Sanchez if he was ready. Sanchez’s four-word answer will excite Phillies fans: “Of course I am.”
This is a huge chance for Sanchez. He’ll face the defending World Series champions, with superstar Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Dodgers. The winner of this series could become the favorite for the 2025 World Series. A strong outing from Sanchez could stop the Dodgers from winning back-to-back titles.
Ohtani versus Sanchez is an incredible pitching matchup. Ohtani hasn’t pitched much this season but remains one of baseball’s best. Sanchez, meanwhile, has been elite.
This is Sanchez’s third year as a primary starter for the Phillies and his second full season as a starter. He had a career year in 2025, making 32 starts, posting a 2.50 ERA, a 13-5 record, 212 strikeouts, and an 8.0 bWAR, leading all pitchers. He set career highs in innings, ERA, strikeouts, and ERA+.
In the playoffs, Sanchez has made two starts before, with a 3.86 ERA in 2023 and 3.60 ERA in 2024. At 28, he’s in his breakout season.
He’ll face a tough Dodgers lineup, including Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Ohtani. It won’t be easy, but Sanchez is ready. The game starts at 6:38 p.m. Eastern. Sanchez will lead the Phillies in the 2025 postseason and aim to help them reach another World Series.