Cristopher Sánchez has been arguably the ’ second-best starter for the majority of the second half of the season. The wiry lefty’s changeup has become one of the best changeups across all of baseball, as he became the first pitcher since Luis Castillo in 2019 to collect 10 strikeouts in a game all on changeups in his last start against the Mets.
Rob Thomson has acknowledged that Sánchez has thrust his name into the conversation for a role in the postseason, potentially starting a playoff game. That seems like it would be the most logical choice considering the recent struggles of Taijuan Walker, but Walker was paid with the belief he could start a playoff game.