Aug 17, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) enters the field before the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports Kyle Ross
After the Phillies completed their simulated game Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park, Rob Thomson said he still hasn't decided on the order of his rotation, and won't until they know whether their NLDS opponent will be the New York Mets or Milwaukee Brewers.
Whether that's gamesmanship or Thomson is legitimately still pondering whether Cristopher Sánchez or Aaron Nola should start Game 2, an answer he gave later in his Zoom meeting with the media offered a clue of what direction things may be headed in.
When asked about what factors he'll be considering when deciding his Game 2 starter, Thomson may have tipped his hand.
"Well, I think it depends on the team we're playing," Thomson said. "I factor in the ... I mean, talk around town is Sanchy's home and road splits. So you gotta factor that in. He's just so much better at home.
"Plus, the fact you can have the ability to break up the right-handed starters and left-handed starters," Thomson continued. "And, you got a guy in Nola who ... he's calm and cool. It doesn't matter where he's pitching. So, I think a lot of those things are in play, and they're things to have a conversation about and try to come up with a collective decision."
Nola indicated this week that he's not concerned about whether he pitches Game 2 or Game 3, and based off of the throwing scheduled he talked about with On Pattison's Anthony SanFilippo, it seems more like he's preparing to start on Tuesday as opposed to Sunday.
By now, you know the difference in Sánchez's success at home, as opposed to the road. The All-Star lefty had a 2.21 ERA in 17 starts at home this season, and a 5.02 ERA in 14 road starts. Knowing that, it would seem to make more sense to have Sánchez start Game 2 at home, as opposed to Game 3 at either Citi Field or American Family Field.
Still, Thomson suggested when asked by On Pattison's John Foley in August that he thought the drastic difference that Sánchez had in his home/road splits was just kind of a random occurrence. Why does he now feel the splits should be at the forefront of the discussion?
"Well, I think early in the year you don't have a lot of games under your belt," Thomson said. "But as time goes on, you know, it's a thing, I think. There's a lot of innings there that you can look at and say 'Well, you know, maybe this is a thing.'
"I think most of the time, those numbers go back and forth from year to year," Thomson added. "It's like a guy's got a better ERA in day games than he does in night games, or vice versa. I don't know how much that is real. But with Sanchy's innings and starts that he's had this year, there is some reality to this."
The good news for everyone involved is that Sánchez and his partner welcomed their first child earlier this week, so whenever the Phillies do tab him to pitch, he'll be able to go.
