Cristopher Sanchez looks to help Phillies rebound vs. Dodgers

The Philadelphia Phillies will close a six-game homestand on Sunday afternoon by looking to take the rubber match in their three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The first two games of the series have been defined by strong pitching. The teams have combined to allow just nine runs and 21 hits while striking out 29 batters.

Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for the Dodgers on Sunday, while left-hander Cristopher Sanchez (0-0, 1.69) will take the mound for the Phillies.

Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner told reporters it is premature to categorize this series as a playoff preview.

“It feels like two good teams going at it and, you know, the energy has been great from our fans,” Turner said. “They’ve been close games. I feel like they’ve been well-played games.”

An All-Star last season, Sanchez did not get a decision in his first start of 2025. He went 5 1/3 innings against the Colorado Rockies in the team’s home opener on Monday, allowing one run on four hits while walking two and striking out seven. He surrendered a home run to Hunter Goodman in the sixth before the Phillies rallied in the late innings for a 6-1 win.

Sanchez is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers.

Saturday’s loss notwithstanding, the Phillies’ rotation has been solid through the season’s first eight games. Starters have allowed just 13 runs over 47 2/3 innings (2.45 ERA). However, all of those runs have come off home runs.

In Saturday’s 3-1 Phillies’ loss, Nola gave up a two-run shot to Enrique Hernandez and a solo homer to Michael Conforto. Both of those blasts were hit off the first pitch in their at-bats.

Conforto, 32, has hit well at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. The 10-year veteran outfielder, who played seven seasons with the New York Mets, has 16 homers with a slugging percentage of .558 in 61 games there. That’s the most homers of any park at which he has only played as a visitor.

Conforto is batting .308 in eight games this season, with two homers and five RBIs.

“He’s in a perfect environment to thrive. … His work is good, and I like what he’s doing to plate,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said.

Glasnow, 31, also had his season debut last Monday, tossing five innings of shutout ball while registering eight strikeouts in a win over the Atlanta Braves. The 6-foot-8 right-hander allowed only two hits but walked three.

Glasnow is 1-0 with a 5.52 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against Philadelphia.

After getting 34 hits in sweeping the Rockies at home, the Phillies have found it hard to make good contact against the Dodgers. Alec Bohm and Max Kepler are a combined 0-for-15 in the two games with a walk, a run and an RBI.

The top of the order for the Phillies — Kyle Schwarber, Turner and Bryce Harper — have given their teammates chances to produce over the last two games. They’ve combined to reach base 10 times against the Dodgers, but only once has any of the top three scored.

–Field Level Media