The Philadelphia Phillies‘ rotation is their not-so-secret weapon this season, and you don’t need to be a baseball genius to know that. It’s not just strong; it’s loaded. Zack Wheeler is wheeling and dealing like a man with a mission, and Ranger Suarez is cool, calm, and doing what he does best. Christopher Sanchez has become one of the most reliable arms in the National League.
Plus, Jesus Luzardo has turned out to be the most unpredictable, but electric, too. But there is a problem, believe it or not. See, when October rolls around, it’s not about who your top five starters are—it’s your top three. Postseason baseball doesn’t give time to stretch legs. Postseason is all about short bursts and all about gas—no time for brakes.
This means someone…maybe someone very good is going to get pushed to the bullpen or even sit. Ouch, right? Wheeler is not going anywhere—he is the ace, period. Luzardo is a little streaky, but his upside is too tempting to let go. Suarez has done bullpen duty before, and he famously closed out the 2022 NLCS and has the mental ability to thrive in big spots. The only knock is that his velocity dipped a little bit this year. That matters in October. So there seems to be only one name, and many agree on it.
Cristopher Sánchez, Filthy 85mph Changeup. pic.twitter.com/mlFbJ9d8iO
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 13, 2025
Given the above circumstances, there is one name, and it’s Cristopher Sanchez. And look, no one wants to move Sanchez. He is the guy who has been fanning batters at a rate of 9.5 K/9, and that changeup is straight up brutal. The Inquirer, in their article, cited, “It’s counterintuitive, yes, to consider moving a starter as good as Sánchez to the bullpen, but it might be the best thing for the Phillies once they start playing the games that matter most.” Playoff baseball is not simple, and sometimes it’s not about who deserves what but who gives you the edge at that moment. And Sanchez might just be the guy who gives them the flexibility out of the pen instead of another start.
But what makes it tougher is the fact that the guy didn’t even get his All-Star nod. Sanchez got snubbed for a Brewers rookie who made all but five starts. And even with that, the Phillies still gave Sanchez a $50,000 bonus that was built into his contract if he had been selected, that is. It is a classy move, but that spotlight was missing, and now the next place left to shine is in October. But even that looks like it’s in a rocky arena right now.
So yeah, the Phillies have a tough call to make. Do they bench one of the best arms for the sake of strategy or gamble on roles and matchups? It’s for sure a good problem to have, but it is still a problem. And if the Phillies want to make a deep postseason run, which they are working on, they need to solve the problem fast. Because just as they are trying to figure out how to juggle too many starters, they are also reminded how quickly things can go wrong when one of them has an off night.
Philadelphia Phillies feel the heat after costly loss
Jesus Luzardo had a rough go against the Los Angeles Angels. Four earned runs, seven hits, and two home runs later, they dropped their first game of the second half 6-5. It was not just a loss; it was a game that questioned their momentum. And Luzardo didn’t shy away from admitting his fault. After the game, Luzardo mentioned, “I feel like obviously this loss is on me.” Sure, that honesty is refreshing, but the expression on his face screamed frustration. Because this was not a bad outing, it was a missed chance. The Phillies had built him a lead, and he couldn’t hold it.
It’s the second shaky start for him this month, and it’s tough timing given how closely every arm will be evaluated heading into October. And while he is taking the heat, the Philadelphia Phillies’ bats didn’t back him up either. At least not consistently over time. One in particular is Bryson Stott’s. And well, Harper, who is never shy about sticking up for his teammates, defended Stott after his game. “He’s here for a reason… he’s one of the best second basemen in the league,” Harper voiced that the clubhouse believes in him. He also added, “He’s just gotta keep going and believe in himself.”
But let’s be honest, Stott’s been in a slump and hitting. 156 in July, with only five hits in ten games. Not great when the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to hold off the New York Mets in the NL East. Now, Stott is not far off in other categories; he is right behind Harper when it comes to RBIs and isn’t striking out at an alarming rate either. But when your team is trying to stay sharp for the postseason run, every slump gets magnified.
Luzardo’s ERA still puts him ahead of Aaron Nola, who is sidelined. And the Phillies, even with all the issues, lead the division. But one thing is for sure—the margin of error is getting thinner by the day. Don’t you think so too?
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