Phillies announce starting pitchers for doubleheader against Padres
PHILADELPHIA — Just before the club’s matchup against the Padres was officially postponed, Phillies manager Rob Thomson approached Cristopher Sánchez in the home clubhouse.
The left-hander was supposed to start on Tuesday night, but the weather changed some plans. Sánchez will now start on Wednesday night, the Phillies announced, taking the ball in the nightcap of a split doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. Rookie Mick Abel will pitch the first game.
When Abel throws the first pitch of Game 1 at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, it will be the first time he’s actually pitched since June 21. He was originally slated to start this past Friday, but a prolonged rain delay in Atlanta kept him from getting into the game since he had already warmed up. The right-hander has a 3.47 ERA in five starts and gave up four solo home runs in three innings to the Mets in his last outing.
Sánchez has continued to improve after an All-Star campaign in 2024, posting a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts so far this season. Heading into Game 2 at 6:05 p.m., he’s coming off an 11-strikeout performance against the Astros in his last start, but he took the loss despite giving up only one run in six innings.
Probable pitchers for the Padres have not yet been listed. Prior to the rainout, former Phillie Nick Pivetta was scheduled to start on Tuesday for San Diego, and Dylan Cease was scheduled to be Wednesday’s starter.
The Phillies (50-35) won the first of their three-game series with the Padres (45-39) on Monday night. More information on Wednesday’s doubleheader can be found below: