Philadelphia Phillies fans have plenty of reasons to smile right now, and the team's resurgence on the mound is leading the charge. After a hot streak that has the city buzzing, the Phillies are getting some well-deserved national attention—and it all starts with their ace left-hander.

On Monday, Major League Baseball announced its Players of the Week, and Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was named National League Player of the Week. The honor comes on the heels of two dominant starts that reminded everyone why he's one of the most feared arms in the game.

Sánchez was simply untouchable over his last two outings. First, he fired 8.0 scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics, then followed it up with 7.0 shutout frames against the Colorado Rockies in a series-clinching win. In total, he tossed 15.0 innings without allowing a single earned run, walked just one batter, and punched out an eye-popping 17 hitters. Those numbers translate to a microscopic 0.67 WHIP and a .170 opponent batting average—elite by any standard.

"Zeros. Besides that, kind of typical [Sánchez]. He's been on a roll," said manager Don Mattingly after Sunday's start. "I know it's been a while since he's given up a run. His mix is just tough… He's a handful. I've definitely seen that from the other side. This guy's, he's really good."

The recognition is especially sweet after a brief rough patch in mid-April, when Sánchez wasn't quite as sharp. He wasn't giving up many runs, but he was falling behind in counts and getting pulled earlier than the team hoped. These last two outings show he's back to his Cy Young-caliber form—the same form that earned him a contract extension before the season.

Through nine starts in 2026, Sánchez now owns a 2.11 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, with a chase rate in the 96th percentile (37.7%) and a strikeout rate of 28.4%. For a Phillies team that lives and breathes on its pitching, having their ace locked in again is exactly the momentum they need to keep rolling.