Phillies fans will love this Cristopher Sanchez All-Star prediction originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies are playing host to the 2026 All-Star Game this year, as the United States of America celebrates its 250th anniversary.
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There are bound to be a few Phillies who make the All-Star roster, with Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Jhoan Duran, and Cristopher Sanchez likely representatives. But would any of these potential All-Stars start the game this year? That's the big question.
Fortunately for Phillies fans, The Athletic's Jim Bowden, amid predicting all four aforementioned likely All-Stars would make the All-Star roster, also predicted Sanchez would earn the starter job for the NL pitching staff this season.
Cristopher Sanchez predicted to be NL All-Star starter
"Cristopher Sanchez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies (starter)," Bowden predicts. "Sanchez recently ended a historic streak of 50 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and has developed into the ace of the Phillies staff. If he continues to pitch as he has so far this season, he'll be the popular pick to throw the first All-Star pitch at his home park."
With the All-Star Game coming to Citizens Bank Park, it would be a very cool moment for Sanchez to be the NL's starting pitcher, especially considering his competition.
Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers aces Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison are all strong options to start the All-Star Game this year.
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But what Sanchez has done this season, with his 50.2 inning scoreless streak (best for a left-handed pitcher ever), and his 1.46 ERA, 4.7 bWAR, and 298 ERA+ so far this season, makes him clearly the frontrunner for the starter job for the NL All-Star team.
Even though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts might be tempted to go Ohtani, what Sanchez has done this season has him as the most deserving National League pitcher to start the All-Star Game.
Bowden is predicting Sanchez will earn such an honor, which Phillies fans would love to see for their beloved ace, who's also the Cy Young frontrunner at the moment.
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