The Houston Astros got off to a strong start Tuesday in their three-game road series with the Philadelphia Phillies, but a new challenge awaits.
The Astros will match up against one of the top pitchers in baseball when they face left-hander Cristopher Sanchez and the Phillies on Wednesday night.
Houston (74-71) began a six-game road trip with a 6-5 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday. Christian Walker, Cam Smith and Daulton Varsho each homered for the Astros, who scored five runs over five innings against rookie starter Andrew Painter.
“Just timely hitting by them,” Painter said. “They put a lot of balls in the right spots.”
Varsho finished with three hits in support of Astros starter Hayden Wesneski, who allowed three runs over six innings. The Astros have won eight of their last 12 games and sit two games ahead of the Texas Rangers atop the American League West.
“We’re playing big games right now,” Wesneski said. “The wins, they’re massive. … These are really important games, and guys feel it. We need to win. It’s as simple as that.”
The Phillies (81-64) remain four games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East. However, the good news for Philadelphia is that the starting pitcher on Wednesday will be Sanchez (16-5, 2.58 ERA).
He worked six innings against the Braves on Friday in his most recent outing, allowing three runs and five hits in a 5-2 defeat.
“He seemed to get better and better as the night went,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “After (the second inning), he settled down the whole time and was getting better as the game went.”
Sanchez has started against the Astros on one occasion in the regular season, allowing one run in six innings with 11 strikeouts in a 2025 matchup.
Houston on Wednesday will start right-hander Hunter Brown (5-3, 3.31 ERA), who has allowed three runs or less in each of his last eight starts. He gave up two runs in six innings Thursday in a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Brown threw 28 pitches in the second inning before settling down to give the Astros’ bullpen a bit of a rest.
“Honestly, I was kind of dragging my blanket a little bit after the second inning,” Brown said. “I couldn’t believe that. I’m better than that, than to do that. That was unbelievable, honestly.”
Brown has pitched 9 1/3 innings against the Phillies in his career without allowing a run.
“Obviously, the velo is there and he’s got kind of a funky angle to him,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said of Brown that day. “A lot of (Pittsburgh Pirates ace) Paul Skenes — a little lower slot with more movement on the fastball.
“Hunter Brown has the sinker, which is good, but that four-seam and slider angle from where he throws the ball is pretty tough. He’s got four really good pitches, maybe even five good pitches, and mixes all of them.”
Astros star Jose Altuve enters Wednesday’s contest with 2,499 career hits. He went 0-for-5 in Tuesday’s series opener.
–Field Level Media
