With Zack Wheeler on the mend, there’s no question Cristopher Sánchez is the guy in the Phillies’ rotation.
That designation comes with added weight, especially when Philadelphia is in a rough patch like this one, sitting at 7-8 on the season after losing Sunday for the fifth time in seven games.
Sánchez will look to get the Phillies on track when he takes the ball at Citizens Bank Park on Monday (6:40 p.m. ET) in the opener of a three-game series against the Cubs -- another National League contender off to a shaky start.
The 29-year-old lefty gave up four runs (two earned) on 11 hits to the Giants his last time out, a 6-0 Phillies loss at Oracle Park, but he has pitched well overall this season.
A year after finishing second to Paul Skenes in the NL Cy Young Award race, Sánchez owns a 1.65 ERA with 23 strikeouts and four walks over 16 1/3 innings. His 1.06 FIP leads NL qualifiers.
Sánchez appears to have a favorable matchup on tap Monday, with the Cubs lineup struggling to the tune of a .204/.315/.336 slash in 162 plate appearances against lefties this season.
But given the way the Phillies' offense has been playing -- Philadelphia ranks 28th in runs scored -- Sánchez might not have much margin for error.