Cristopher Sánchez will start Phillies’ season opener vs. Rangers
Zack Wheeler has started the past two opening days, but he is still working his way back from thoracic outlet decompression surgery, making Sánchez the clear choice.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Cristopher Sánchez will be the first Phillies pitcher to take the ball in the 2026 season.
On Friday, MLB announced that the left-hander will officially be the Phillies’ opening day starter when the Phillies host the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
Zack Wheeler has started the past two opening days, but as he is still working his way back from thoracic outlet decompression surgery, Sánchez was the clear choice. When Wheeler’s season ended last August after a blood clot was identified in his arm, Sánchez stepped into the role of ace of the staff.
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He posted a 2.50 ERA in 2025 in a career-high 202 innings, was the Phillies’ Game 1 starter in the National League Division Series, and was a unanimous runner-up in the NL Cy Young race.
Sánchez’s rise to one of the top left-handers in baseball has been meteoric.
The Phillies acquired him in 2019 from the Tampa Bay Rays in a minor-league swap for Curtis Mead. At the time, he was often overlooked as a prospect due to struggles with command. But an opportunity opened in 2022 for him to assume the No. 5 spot in the Phillies rotation, and Sánchez seized it.
His changeup has developed into one of the most elite pitches in baseball. According to StatCast metrics, it had a +18 run value in 2025, the second-highest marker out of all changeups behind the one thrown by back-to-back American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.