Overview
- Through 16 starts Sánchez has a 1.80 ERA, 121 strikeouts, 105 innings pitched and just 20 walks, a combination noted across coverage in mid-June.
- Only about 10 pitchers in MLB history have matched Sánchez’s ERA and strikeout totals through 16 starts and the subset with fewer than 25 walks includes Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw and Pedro Martínez.
- Despite the historic first half, analysts say Sánchez is not the clear favorite for the NL Cy Young because Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski leads the majors in several rate categories and counting stats.
- Sánchez is scheduled to pitch the series finale in Washington, where the Nationals rank as the highest-scoring offense this year, a near-term test reporters flagged as a barometer for sustainability.
- The larger question for awards and legacy is durability: if Sánchez repeats his first 16 starts over the next 16 he would have one of the best single-season pitching performances in Phillies and MLB history.