Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez Isn't an All-Star Due to Scheduled Start Before All-Star Game

Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez Isn't an All-Star Due to Scheduled Start Before All-Star Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

None of the 2025 All-Star Game snubs have been as rough and controversial as Philadelphia Phillies Cristopher Sanchez's snub. He has the statistics to earn such an accolade, yet MLB didn't give him such an honor.

With questions and complaints directed at MLB, Matt Gelb of The Athletic shared the league's reasoning for Sanchez not being an All-Star.

"The league offered Sanchez an All-Star spot if he agreed to waive the restrictions and make himself available for an inning two days after his start," Gelb writes, "A major-league source said Saturday morning after The Athletics story was published."

With such a choice in front of Sanchez and the Phillies, the two made a difficult decision not to attend the All-Star game by waiving the restrictions. "Sanchez and the Phillies," Gelb writes, "Citing an injury scare earlier this season, declined."

"MLB told them a replacement player can only be named to the All-Star roster if he agrees to pitch in the game." Gelb wrote. "Sanchez, by rule, cannot make the team."

With Sanchez scheduled to pitch on Sunday, two days before the All-Star game, he isn't allowed to pitch in the game, barring his decision to waive the restrictions placed on him.

By deciding not to waive such restrictions, Sanchez won't be an All-Star. Due to his scheduled outing on Sunday, July 13th, two days before the All-Star game, Sanchez won't be an All-Star.

While he's not an All-Star, Sanchez deserved the accolade. In his 18 starts for the Phillies, Sanchez is 7-2 with a 2.59 ERA and 116 strikeouts. Across his 107.2 innings this season, Sanchez has a WHIP of 1.133 with 29 walks.

His 2.59 ERA is 10th in MLB, 4th in the National League, and his 116 strikeouts are 15th in MLB, and 9th in the National League. His 4.1 WAR is third in the National League, and 4th overall, behind only Paul Skenes, Zack Wheeler, and Tarik Skubal, all the top Cy Young candidates.

With such a strong resume, it's a shame that Sanchez is missing the All-Star game. He has the statistics to deserve a spot, which is evident from MLB's offer to let him pitch and waive the restrictions put on players pitching on Sunday.

But Sanchez and the Phillies are cautious and won't send the lefty to Atlanta for the All-Star Game. However, even if he isn't pitching, Sanchez deserves a spot on the All-Star roster.

Even though he was offered a spot by MLB, he isn't going to go down as an All-Star. Sanchez did enough to warrant the All-Star accolade, yet he won't earn such an accolade since he's pitching on Sunday.

Related: Phillies Expected to Make Andrew Painter Decision at MLB Trade Deadline

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.