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Cristopher Sanchez 2024 Player Outlook: Expect Sustained Success
9 months agoCristopher Sanchez shocked many in 2023, sticking in the Phillies rotation with a 3.44 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 24.2% strikeout rate, and 4% walk rate through 18 starts. While not scouted as a game-changing pitcher, the 27-year-old's impressive command (101 Location+ grade) and clever pitch usage made him one of the top pitchers since his call-up on June 17, ranking 14th in the league in ERA among qualifying pitchers. Sanchez worked with a three-pitch arsenal: a sinker, changeup, and slider. The sinker, his primary pitch, pounds the zone with a 72.7% strike rate and an elite 33% CSW rate. His changeup is his star pitch, with an elite 23.1% SwStr% (swinging-strike rate) on the pitch. That changeup/sinker mix became most potent in September when his changeup usage nearly equaled his sinker usage (43.7% sinker usage to 40.5% changeup usage), leading to a 2.48 xFIP, 28.1% strikeout rate, 4.2% walk rate, and 1.07 WHIP through 24 1/3 innings. While you may want to write his 2023 season off as a freak occurrence, an impressive pitch mix, exceptional command, and an elite Phillies lineup mean you should expect a good return on his 244 ADP.
