Cristopher Sanchez focuses on Royals start, not All-Star Game
Cristopher Sanchez said Sunday he is not thinking about the July 14 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park because his focus is Monday afternoon's start against the Kansas City Royals and Saturday's start in Detroit, even as he remains on track for his second career All-Star nod. The Philadelphia Phillies left-hander spoke in Kansas City as reports swirl that NL manager Dave Roberts is planning to name him the starting pitcher for the Midsummer Classic at home.
Key Takeaways
- Sanchez said his immediate priority is Monday vs. Kansas City and Saturday in Detroit, not All-Star planning.
- He is 10-3 with a 2.00 ERA and on track for his second career All-Star selection.
- NL manager Dave Roberts is reportedly planning to name Sanchez the starting pitcher on July 14.
- Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski is unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game due to his July 12 start.
- The Phillies shut out the Pirates on June 30 as Pittsburgh's woes against left-handed pitching continued.
Why is Sanchez tuning out All-Star talk right now?
Speaking Sunday in Kansas City, Sanchez made clear that the calendar in front of him matters more than the buzz building back in Philadelphia. He said he is not thinking about the All-Star Game because he is locked in on his next two starts, according to MLB.com.
His next two assignments are concrete: a Monday afternoon start against the Royals and a Saturday road start in Detroit. That tunnel vision fits a pitcher who has spent 2026 piling up historic numbers rather than headlines.
Could Sanchez actually start the All-Star Game in Philadelphia?
Despite his downplaying of the honor, Sanchez has a strong chance to take the mound on July 14. He enters the break at 10-3 with a 2.00 ERA, leads qualified MLB pitchers with 5.7 bWAR, and is tied with Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski at 4.3 fWAR, per MLB.com.
According to Yahoo Sports, citing USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts — who will manage the NL — is planning to make Sanchez the starting pitcher. Misiorowski, once a frontrunner, is scheduled to start the Brewers' final game before the break on July 12, making him ineligible to pitch in the exhibition.
Sanchez will be eligible to pitch in the All-Star Game. With Shohei Ohtani not expected to pitch as a reliever and no other NL pitcher presenting a clear challenger, the Phillies ace looks positioned for a hometown start.
What makes Sanchez's 2026 season so remarkable?
Sanchez carried a 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak from late April through early June, the fifth-longest single-season mark in MLB history since 1893, MLB.com reported. He also leads all qualified MLB pitchers with a 5.7 bWAR while sharing a 4.3 fWAR mark with Misiorowski.
When asked about the possibility of a hometown start, Sanchez kept it brief: "We'll wait and see." Still, he acknowledged the milestone of a second All-Star nod. "It feels good," he said. "I'm super excited and happy."
How did the Pirates game factor into Sanchez's momentum?
Before this Kansas City trip, the Phillies shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 30. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette framed the loss as part of the Pirates' ongoing struggles against left-handed pitching — a recurring problem for a club that could not solve Philadelphia's staff.
That result extended a breakout year for Sanchez, who joins Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Jhoan Duran, and Brandon Marsh as one of five Phillies on the 2026 All-Star roster, per Yahoo Sports. For more updates on athletes crossing into the spotlight, browse our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.