Next up for Cristopher Sánchez: A chance at major league history vs. the Padres

Cristopher Sánchez made Phillies history last week.

Next up: major league history.

With a scoreless first inning Wednesday night against the Padres, Sánchez will eclipse Carl Hubbell, a Hall of Famer, for the longest scoreless streak ever by a left-handed pitcher. Orel Hershiser owns the overall record with 59 scoreless innings in 1988.

Sánchez hasn’t allowed a run in 44⅔ innings, the seventh-longest streak since at least 1893 when the current mound distance was set. Last Wednesday, he passed Grover Cleveland Alexander’s 115-year-old franchise mark of 41 consecutive scoreless innings.

» READ MORE: Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez is approaching history, and Orel Hershiser knows the feeling well

“He’s a stud,” said the Padres’ Nick Castellanos, who made his return to Citizens Bank Park after being released by the Phillies in February. “He’s doing his thing. He’s settled in. He’s in a groove. He’s locked into his routine. I’m happy for him.

“Also, he got his contract [extended], too, right? So, that’s definitely well-deserved.”

Sánchez’s transformation from a fringy major league pitcher to a Cy Young candidate has been documented. His changeup, which comes out of the same arm slot as his sinker, is among the most dominant pitches in baseball. Opponents are hitting .153 and slugging .176 against his changeup.

But the development of a slider has been instrumental for Sánchez. He’s throwing it more often this season, giving him a third weapon against left-handed hitters.

“It’s more feeling proud of myself because of the work that we put in during the offseason on that pitch specifically,” Sánchez said recently through a team interpreter. “The results are showing now, so it’s something that to feel really good about.”

Sánchez has also been nearly unhittable at home, with a 1.83 ERA and 17-4 record in 260⅔ innings since the beginning of the 2024 season.

“I think that I know every single corner of the stadium,” he said. “I know every part of it. I love the fans. I love the energy that they bring. I just feel really comfortable pitching here.”

The Phillies were off Monday, but struggling right fielder Adolis García showed up for work anyway.

García went 0-for-17 with eight strikeouts on the West Coast trip, part of a 3-for-57, 30-strikeout malaise that left his OPS at .571, 159th among 161 qualified hitters.

So, García came in on the off-day to work with hitting coach Kevin Long and hit on the field before batting practice Tuesday.

» READ MORE: Is it finally time for Mike Trout to be traded? The all-in Phillies make too much sense.

“K-Long felt good about where he was at, so we’re going to hang with him right now,” said Mattingly, who conceded that he considered benching García for the series opener against the Padres. “Guys don’t like, in general, coming in on off-days, and the fact that he wanted to come in [Monday], we feel like it’s a positive.

“I know he’s struggling. I think everybody obviously knows that. But the fact that he’s wanting to get better — and we need him. If we can get to his upside, then we’re a better team."

When the Phillies took a one-year, $10 million flier on García, they hoped he could recapture the right-handed power that made him an All-Star with the Rangers in 2023.

Instead, García was batting .191 entering play Tuesday night. He hadn’t homered since May 6 and had two extra-base hits in his last 22 games.

García is emblematic of the Phillies offense, which ranked last in the majors in on-base percentage (.292), 28th in OPS (.673), and tied for 26th in runs per game (3.9).

It’s clear that several hitters — García and Trea Turner, in particular — are pressing. Would it help if they took fewer pregame swings instead of more?

» READ MORE: Rhys Hoskins’ injury was a sliding door moment in Phillies history. And it still ‘kind of eats at’ Bryce Harper.

“I think [García] kind of tried the do-less thing in L.A. a little bit,” Mattingly said. “As a hitter, it’s hard to just sit back and say, ‘Oh, it’s going to change.’ You’ve got to try to find that feel, and that feel can come back through work.

“Sometimes just getting tired enough to relax is a good thing. But I think you have to work when you feel like you’re lost.”

J.T. Realmuto wasn’t in the lineup after taking a fastball off the left wrist Sunday in Los Angeles. But Mattingly characterized it as a planned move to give the iron-man catcher consecutive days off.

And how’s the bruised wrist?

“I think he’s OK,” Mattingly said. “He was hit pretty good.”

The plan, according to Mattingly, is for Realmuto to catch Sánchez and Zack Wheeler in the next two games against the Padres, “unless something changes.”

Garrett Stubbs started behind the plate because the Phillies wanted to pair him up with Aaron Nola.

Castellanos on his tenure with the Phillies: “This is a core memory that I’m going to have for the rest of my life, being in Philly. Not everything that everybody does is all positive and it’s not all negative. As a team, we had highs. As a team, we had lows.” … With Nola returning from the paternity list, the Phillies optioned reliever Nolan Hoffman to triple A. Hoffman allowed one run in 1⅓ innings Sunday. … Center fielder Johan Rojas is eligible to return June 25 from an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance but will begin a minor-league assignment before then. Rojas, who can be added to the roster or optioned to triple A after the suspension is served, is working out in Clearwater, Fla., according to Mattingly. … Sánchez will be opposed at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday by Padres right-hander Walker Buehler (3-3, 4.88 ERA).

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