The star, who just a week ago was drawing attention as a potential breakout star following his outstanding performance against the San Francisco Giants, faced a concerning setback during the Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-1 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field. Expectations were high after his previous dominant outing, but this time, he lasted only two innings before being pulled from the game due to left forearm soreness.
During his short appearance, He threw 58 pitches but noticeably struggled with his command—a sharp contrast from his last start. One troubling sign was the dip in his sinker velocity, which fell from an average of 95.9 mph in his previous game to 94.7 mph against the Mets. Additionally, his changeup, typically a strong part of his arsenal, lacked its usual effectiveness.
Although he managed a solid sequence against Mets slugger Juan Soto, He clearly didn’t look like the same confident and dominant pitcher from his last outing. His early departure immediately raised concerns among both the team and fans, as forearm soreness is often a red flag and can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying issue such as ligament damage.
The Phillies have not ruled out the possibility of further medical testing, including an MRI, to determine the extent of the problem. However, speaking after the game, Cristopher Sanchez attempted to downplay the situation. “Right now, I feel normal,” he told reporters from NBC Sports Philadelphia. “The doc checked me out and I feel positive that we’re not gonna have to be worried about this.”
Despite Sanchez’s optimism, the uncertainty surrounding his health poses a significant concern for a Phillies rotation that’s already under pressure. Veteran ace Aaron Nola has been inconsistent so far this season, and lefty Ranger Suarez is still working his way back and has yet to make his 2025 debut. If Sanchez ends up missing time, the Phillies may need to rely more heavily on Taijuan Walker, who could re-enter the rotation, or they might be forced to accelerate Suarez’s return, potentially before he’s fully ready.
In short, what began as a promising storyline for Sanchez has now become a major question mark for the Phillies, whose pitching depth could be tested early in the season if this injury turns out to be more serious than initially hoped.
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