Why Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez is likely to start All-Star Game amid Dave Roberts' plan

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The Philadelphia Phillies have five players making this year's All-Star team, with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Jhoan Duran, Cristopher Sanchez, and starting outfielder Brandon Marsh making up the All-Stars from the Phillies.

It's a special year, as the Phillies are hosting the All-Star Game, and the home fans getting a chance to see their own players step up to the plate and onto the mound will be very fun. But Marsh is the only starter. At least, for now.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers manager set to manage the All-Star Game for the NL team, is planning to make Sanchez, the beloved Phillies ace, the NL's starting pitcher for the All-Star Game.

Cristopher Sanchez is planned starter for All-Star Game

"It might be a different dilemma if Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was planning to start Misiorowski in the All-Star Game, but the current plan is for Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez (10-3, 2.00 ERA) to have the honor in front of his hometown fans," Nightengale reports.

This is some big news for the Phillies fans, and especially for Sanchez. While Jacob Misiorowski looked likely to be the All-Star starter for the NL team, or even Shohei Ohtani, since he's not going to come in as a reliever, Sanchez had some hurdles to clear.

But Roberts is reportedly planning to make Sanchez the NL starter, giving him the nod for his home ballpark to be the NL's starting pitcher.

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Sanchez deserves this honor, but there has been some worry about Misiorowski or Ohtani stealing the spotlight. But, with no other pitcher in the NL really being a worthy challenger for Sanchez, he should be the NL's starter.

This season, across 18 starts, Sanchez has a 2.00 ERA with a 10-3 record, 5.7 bWAR, and 136 strikeouts in 117 innings. He's been one of, if not the best, pitchers in MLB this season.

Now, with this update from Nightengale, Sanchez is reportedly the starting pitcher for the NL All-Star team, as Roberts plans to name him the starting pitcher, regardless of Ohtani or Misiorowski's status.