Cristopher Sánchez (9-3, 2.13 ERA) draws Bubba Chandler (3-7, 4.42 ERA) in the second game of this series, with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The gap between these 2 starters is as wide as it looks — Sánchez has been one of the better pitchers in baseball all season, on the short list for an All-Star nod, while Chandler is a young arm still sorting out a rocky rookie year.
The backdrop is Monday's 11-7 Pittsburgh win, where the Pirates erased a 5-run first-half deficit. Bryce Harper hit his 20th homer, Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh went deep in the first inning, and the Phillies still lost — Endy Rodriguez buried them with a 3-run ninth-inning shot off the bullpen. Aaron Nola, now 3-5, absorbed the damage after the offense handed him a lead he couldn't hold. Don Mattingly's Phillies pulled off one of the fastest turnarounds in MLB history this season, going from 9-19 in late April to 47-38 today. One ugly night doesn't erase that, but they need Sánchez to show up.
Sánchez already beat this Pittsburgh lineup once — he threw a complete game shutout at PNC Park on May 16. The less comfortable fact is that he's sitting on a 5.40 ERA over his last 3 starts, a meaningful dip after the historic 50-plus inning scoreless streak that defined his first half. Chandler, for his part, has genuinely improved lately. His ERA in his last 4 outings dropped to around 3.18, and his most recent start — 5.1 innings, 1 earned run against Seattle — was clean. The Pirates have offensive momentum, a rested bullpen, and a lineup that showed real depth last night with multiple contributors. This is not a walkover.
Pittsburgh is also playing shorthanded. Oneil Cruz (hand) is on the 10-day IL and not expected back until July. Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) is likely shelved until after the All-Star break per GM Ben Cherington. Jared Jones is day-to-day as of Tuesday morning. Philadelphia is dealing with its own absences — Adolis Garcia (torn right lat, 60-day IL) and Johan Rojas (UCL surgery, done for the season) are both out — but the core of Harper, Turner, and Marsh is intact and remains the most dangerous part of this lineup.
- Day-To-DayJared Jones SP — no
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo SP — Solometo underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.
- Day-To-DayMitch Jebb LF
- Day-To-DayOddanier Mosqueda RP — Mosqueda will not throw for a couple weeks due to left forearm inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan SP — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILSpencer Horwitz 1B — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Horwitz (hamstring) will remain sidelined for "weeks, not days," and the first baseman isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILOneil Cruz CF — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he expects Cruz (hand) to return from the 10-day injured list at some point in July, most likely after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 15-Day-ILWilber Dotel RP — Dotel (lat) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Altoona on Saturday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
- Day-To-DayLiover Peguero SS — The Phillies reassigned Peguero to minor-league camp Sunday.
- Day-To-DayAndrew Bechtold 3B — no
- Day-To-DayAndrew Walling RP
- Day-To-DayCarson DeMartini SS
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert RP — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary C — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrad Keller RP — Keller (forearm) has progressed to playing catch, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJohan Rojas CF — Rojas (suspension) underwent surgery Friday to repair the UCL in his right elbow and will face an expected recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The Phillies are a team that responds. They've been doing it all season, and tonight they have their best pitcher on the mound against a rotation spot that is legitimately vulnerable. Chandler has improved, but improved relative to a rough baseline. Sánchez has shown he can shut this lineup down completely when he's right, and Citizens Bank Park is not a forgiving place to be a 3-7 road starter trying to steal 2 in a row.