By the time the Phillies returned home to begin their Friday night series against the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, all eyes were on newly acquired closer Jhoan Duran. Fans eagerly awaited his electrifying entrance — and they didn’t have to wait long. Duran capped off a long first day with the team by delivering a flawless four-pitch save in just 90 seconds, preserving a 5-4 win to kick off Alumni Weekend.Saturday told a different story. In a marquee pitching matchup, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler struggled, giving up three home runs. Meanwhile, Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was dominant, keeping the Phillies hitless through six innings. Though the Phillies broke through in the seventh, it wasn’t enough, and they fell 7-5.
On Sunday night, under the national spotlight, Cristopher Sánchez took the mound aiming to clinch the series against former Phillie Charlie Morton, who was making his Tigers debut at age 41. Sánchez delivered yet another standout performance, tossing eight scoreless innings on just 84 pitches. With the game under control, there was no need to push him further — Duran once again emerged to shut the door, delivering a second straight perfect inning. The Phillies won 2-0 and secured the series win against a division leader.
What makes Sánchez’s rise so remarkable is how quietly dominant he has been. He regularly pitches deep into games with impressive efficiency — a stark contrast from the erratic pitcher he once was. Early in his career, Sánchez was just another power arm with little control. But a bold decision to dial back his velocity to hone his command proved pivotal. That move unlocked a lethal changeup and, once he regained his control, he added muscle and came back throwing even harder.
His latest gem — 8 innings, 5 hits, no runs, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk — continued a season full of excellence. Sánchez’s evolution from a fringe roster piece to a legitimate Cy Young candidate in just three years is nothing short of remarkable. While he may have been overlooked for the All-Star Game, a performance like Sunday’s on national TV could finally bring the attention he deserves. What he’s doing on the mound is nothing less than extraordinary.