It’s all about pitching | Sports Daily Newsletter
Phillies commit to Cristopher Sánchez with a six-year deal.
Say this much for the Phillies: When they see promise in their pitchers, they commit to keeping them around for a while.
They showed that commitment again Sunday when they announced a six-year, $107 million contract for Cristopher Sánchez, the Cy Young runner-up last season. Sánchez, now 29, went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 32 starts last year
Prepaying for Sánchez is the team’s latest effort at investing in its own starters before they hit the market, Marcus Hayes writes. Last March, the Phillies locked in Zack Wheeler through 2027, and two weeks ago, they locked in Jesús Luzardo through 2032.
Now they have Sánchez in the fold through 2032 and likely will save a bit of money on him in the long run if he stays healthy.
Kyle Schwarber, for one, looks healthy as the Phillies prepare for opening day on Thursday. Schwarber homered in an exhibition loss to the Yankees, but Aaron Judge took Aaron Nola deep, too.
— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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The Phillies got quite a scare Sunday when right-handed pitcher Daniel Robert collapsed on the mound during a bullpen session, appearing to clutch his chest. Robert collapsed during a similar session in October and Phillies medical trainers administered CPR and used a defibrillator to save his life.
A Phillies spokesperson confirmed that Daniel, 31, had another cardiac event Sunday. His implantable cardioverter defibrillator was triggered as he was coming off the mound, but he was stable and alert and was taken to the local hospital to have the device data reviewed.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie showed the way as Tennessee advanced in the NCAA’s Midwest Regional with a 79-72 win over Virginia at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Gillespie had 21 points and six assists. Jonathan Tannenwald provides a full recap.
In the second half of the doubleheader, UConn won a game that was as high-quality as hoped for, 73-57, with fans on hand including the Sixers’ UCLA alum Adem Bona and UConn alum Andre Drummond. The rest of the crowd enjoyed a clash of the game’s bluebloods that lived up to the hype.
This will be Philly’s year for sports in several ways. The tournament games here on Friday and Sunday were the opening act of a calendar that includes the PGA Championship, the World Cup, and baseball’s All-Star Game. Matt Breen has more on what’s to come to the City of Brotherly Love.
It sure seemed like a mistake when the Sixers traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft picks about six weeks ago. Since then, McCain has been mostly proving that with the defending NBA champs. The Sixers will get a change to get reacquainted tonight at 7 when the Thunder visit Xfinity Mobile Arena (NBCSP).
“I ain’t gonna lie and say I don’t miss Jared,” says Tyrese Maxey, who remains sidelined. “But I’m happy for him. I watch him in OKC. Hope he does well every single night that he plays — except when he plays us, of course."
The Sixers drafted VJ Edgecombe third overall in June while the Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey with the fifth overall pick. The two squared off for the first time in the Sixers’ victory on Saturday and Edgecombe hopes for many more matchups to come through the years.
“We have a long way to go,” Edgecombe said. “ … It’s great to see him out there getting better.”
Don’t look now but the Flyers are threatening to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Fresh off a 3-0 West Coast trip, they have gone 9-3 in their last 12 games. This is an important week for the Flyers in their postseason push, writes Jackie Spiegel, who breaks down what it will take to return to the playoffs.
Sports snapshot
A fresh mock draft: Devin Jackson offers his latest version, this one with the Eagles making a trade in the first round.
Floundering Union: Bradley Carnell says his players are feeling “a little fragile” after another MLS loss.
State champions: The latest PIAA Class 4A state title for Neumann Goretti’s girls is bittersweet for coach Andrea Peterson.
Coming up short: Imhotep’s boys and Archbishop Wood’s girls are beaten in the state finals.
On this date
March 23, 1979: The 76ers completed a protested game against the New Jersey Nets and prevailed, 123-117. The Nets protested a loss in a November game because too many technical foul free throws were awarded to the Sixers and the contest was replayed from the 5-minute, 50-second mark of the third quarter. The Sixers still won as Julius Erving scored 32 points.
When pitchers and catchers reported to Phillies camp on Feb. 11, the pool of six starting pitchers did so under storm clouds of worry and doubt. Five weeks later, each of them has done everything possible to relax that worry and allay those doubts.
Ribless ace Zack Wheeler is ahead of schedule, workhorse Aaron Nola is making 2025 look like an aberration, and 22-year-old Andrew Painter again looks like a generational talent. Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and Taijuan Walker, the other half of the half-dozen, have been just as good or better. More from Marcus Hayes.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Scott Lauber, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Devin Jackson, Jonathan Tannenwald, Ariel Simpson, Matt Breen, and Joe Santoliquito.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter as we move one day closer to Phillies opening day. Thanks for reading. — Jim