Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez snubbed for All-Star honor by ESPN prediction

The Philadelphia Phillies are playing host to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, with every team sending a representative to the festivities this summer in Philadelphia.

For the Phillies, there's sure to be some representation on the roster. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jhoan Duran should all be All-Stars this season, with Zack Wheeler and Brandon Marsh having solid cases as well.

But the bigger question will be with Sanchez, and if he's going to be the starter for the NL All-Star team or not. He's been the best pitcher in the NL this season, but ESPN's David Schoenfield predicted that a different NL pitcher would start the All-Star Game over Sanchez in his home ballpark.

Cristopher Sanchez snubbed by ESPN analyst in All-Star prediction

"I'd be perfectly fine with Cristopher Sanchez starting the game since it's in Philadelphia, and Ohtani, of course, is also in the running, but Misiorowski is the starting pitcher we've been talking about the most this season as he spins zeroes on the scoreboard and triple digits with his fastball."

Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers has been incredible this season; there's no denying that. But, compared to Sanchez, the Phillies left-hander should be the frontrunner for the starting job in the All-Star Game.

Sanchez had a 50.2 inning scoreless streak this season, the most by any left-handed pitcher in MLB history, and one of the longest ever.

The Phillies lefty also has a 1.54 ERA this season with an 8-2 record, one complete game shutout, 93.1 innings pitched (most in MLB), 113 strikeouts, and an MLB-best 282 ERA+ and 1.85 FIP to go with an MLB-best 4.9 bWAR in 14 starts.

Misiorowski has a 1.50 ERA with a 7-2 record, 78 innings pitched, 116 strikeouts, a 272 ERA+, a 1.92 FIP, and 3.3 bWAR across 13 starts.

MORE: Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

While the Brewers ace might have a better ERA and more strikeouts, he's made one fewer start than Sanchez, and has a lot fewer innings pitched and significantly less bWAR.

Shohei Ohtani could also be in the All-Star conversation, but his innings count is a little low compared to Misiorowski and especially to Sanchez.

When it comes to who's starting for the NL team in the All-Star Game, with how close Sanchez and Misiorowski are, it would be a disservice not to have Sanchez as the predicted starter. If this game were in Milwaukee, Misiorowski should be the starter.

This is an incredibly close competition, and the difference in home ballpark should factor in a little bit here, especially since Misiorowski isn't clearly ahead of Sanchez.

Schoenfield snubbing Sanchez in this All-Star prediction would frustrate Phillies fans, and justifiably so, as the left-hander shouldn't just be the Cy Young favorite, he should be the favorite to start in the All-Star Game this season as well.

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