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The National League Cy Young race is heating up, and one name that stands out is Cristopher Sánchez. The Philadelphia Phillies starter has recently achieved a remarkable feat, throwing 44 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, a streak that hasn’t seen a run scored against him since April 30. This impressive run has sparked discussions among baseball experts about his place among the league’s elite pitchers.
On the latest episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast,” hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman delved into Sánchez’s extraordinary performance and the competitive landscape of the NL Cy Young Award race. Mintz highlighted the significance of Sánchez’s streak, noting, “This is the seventh-longest scoreless innings streak of the live-ball era (since 1920) and the longest ever by a left-handed pitcher.” He also pointed out that Sánchez has recorded five consecutive scoreless starts, striking out 45 batters while issuing just three walks during this stretch.
Despite a rough start to the season, where he allowed 12 hits and six runs against the Cubs on April 23, Sánchez has turned his performance around dramatically. Shusterman remarked on the turnaround, saying, “Now it’s gone so far in the other direction, where it’s like, ‘Oh my god, this is one of the greatest stretches of pitching we’ve ever seen.’” The hosts agreed that Sánchez has earned the right to be the starter for the NL in the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
But Sánchez isn’t the only pitcher making waves this May. Jacob Misiorowski has also had a standout month, throwing 31 1/3 innings with just one run allowed, along with 49 strikeouts. Shusterman noted the impressive nature of Misiorowski’s performance, stating, “Miz is really just doing it right now. He looks as dominant as any pitcher that we’ve had in quite some time.” While both pitchers have excelled, the hosts leaned toward Sánchez’s scoreless streak as a defining factor in their evaluation.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani continues to be a conversation piece in the Cy Young discussions, even though he threw six no-hit innings against the Rockies this week. Shusterman pointed out that Ohtani’s limited innings pitched this season—55—puts him at a disadvantage in the race. Despite this, he is tied with Paul Skenes for third in pitcher fWAR among NL starters.
As the conversation shifted to other contenders, Chris Sale’s resurgence at 37 years old caught attention. Shusterman noted, “Sale looks unbelievable, when we thought he was on the verge of retiring,” highlighting Sale’s position among the top five in the NL in innings pitched and ERA.
However, the competition is stiff in the NL, and while Mason Miller has been impressive as the Padres’ closer, Shusterman cautioned that his chances of winning the Cy Young may be slim due to the strength of the starting pitchers. Mintz humorously suggested, “You should’ve stayed in the AL, bro!”
With so many talented pitchers vying for recognition, the race for the NL Cy Young Award remains one of the most exciting narratives of the season. For more insights and updates on this and other MLB topics, tune in to “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” wherever you get your podcasts.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
