The problem: they ran straight into Cristopher Sánchez. The Phillies lefty is sitting on a 1.82 ERA, just shredded the Pirates for 9 innings of shutout ball with 13 strikeouts, and has now thrown 7-plus scoreless innings in 3 consecutive May starts. His scoreless streak is up to 29.2 innings. Philly paid him with a 6-year, $107 million extension and he is making the front office look like geniuses.
Gavin Williams is no slouch on the other side. 6-3 with a 3.67 ERA, 73 strikeouts, and Cleveland pushed his last start back a day to balance the rotation — he rewarded them by beating the Reds on May 17. He has been good. He just happens to be matched up against a guy throwing a no-hitter every fifth day.
The market sees it. Phillies are -175 at Pinnacle with a fair win probability of 62.4%, and the total is sitting at a measly 6.5 — basically a Sánchez tax. If you think the Guardians' bats keep cooking against anyone, you are getting +161 to find out.
Philadelphia is at .500 (25-25) and has been navigating an injury list that would make most clubhouses cry. Kyle Schwarber is day-to-day with an illness and was out Wednesday, the bullpen is missing Backhus, Pop, and Lazar, and Daniel Robert is still recovering from a cardiac incident during a bullpen session earlier this month. Cleveland is comparatively healthy, with Gabriel Arias on the 10-day IL as the only real position-player absence.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez (RP) — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.05/08
- PaternityPeyton Pallette (RP) — The Guardians placed Pallette on the paternity list Tuesday.05/19
- 10-Day-ILGabriel Arias (SS) — no05/22
- Day-To-DayKyle Schwarber (DH) — Schwarber (illness) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.05/20
- Day-To-DayKeaton Anthony (1B) — Anthony suffered a fractured toe after fouling a ball off his foot during Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Red Sox, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayRene Pinto (C) — Pinto (undisclosed) began a rehab assignment Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert (RP) — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayAndrew Bechtold (3B) — Bechtold signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Dec. 1.05/08
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary (C) — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILKyle Backhus (RP) — Backhus (elbow) played catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.05/14
- 15-Day-ILZach Pop (RP) — Pop (calf) began a rehab assignment Saturday, throwing a clean inning for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.05/11
- suspensionJohan Rojas (CF) — Rojas (shoulder) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against Atlanta, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILMax Lazar (RP) — Lazar (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Jersey Shore on Thursday.05/08
This one is simple: if Sánchez keeps doing Sánchez things, the streak ends in South Philly. If the Guardians find a way to put a crooked number on the best lefty in baseball right now, the rest of the league should probably start paying attention.