After a rocky performance in the All-Star Game, Cristopher Sanchez hopes to look more like himself Monday when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series.

With the Midsummer Classic held in Philadelphia, Sanchez (11-4, 2.62 ERA) was selected by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to start the game in front of his home fans. However, the talented left-hander allowed three runs in a shaky first inning as the National League went on to lose to the American League 4-0.

“Just a sign of respect to the fans,” Sanchez said of his pregame salute to the crowd. “A little payback for all the love that they gave me on such an important day, both for me and for the fan base.”

Sanchez has made two starts this month, not counting the All-Star Game, and has allowed 11 runs and 22 hits in 10 1/3 innings.

He has started four times in his career against the Dodgers, going 2-0 with a 4.01 ERA. Additionally, Sanchez started twice against Los Angeles in last year’s National League Division Series, posting a 2.25 ERA, although the Phillies lost both games — and the series in four.

Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.81) will get the ball for the Dodgers in his second career start against the Phillies. He held them to one run in 5 2/3 innings in a regular-season matchup last September, and then Sheehan made a pair of appearances out of the bullpen in the NLDS, yielding two runs in three innings.

More recently, Sheehan closed his first half on July 12 with a solid outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He gave up three runs (two earned) over 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven in a 101-pitch effort.

“I’m happy with the work we’ve put in to try to get back to the point we’re at now, and the process of it all,” Sheehan said. “I think we’re in a good spot with what we know we need to work on.”

This outing will mark the first time since June 1 that Sheehan has started on a day other than Sunday. He’ll take the mound against a Philadelphia lineup that struggled to produce in Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the New York Mets.

The Phillies managed only six hits (four singles) in that one and struck out 14 times in dropping the rubber game of the weekend set. Alan Rangel allowed five runs in the first two innings, creating a hole that the offense was unable to dig out of.

“You’re managing that game, trying to get through it, and then you’re trying to keep guys available for (Monday),” said Philadelphia interim manager Don Mattingly. “Hopefully, we’re in a good situation (Monday) with (Sanchez), keeping guys available. We were kind of able to do that.”

Los Angeles split a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, posting an 8-2 victory over New York in the opener before dropping a 2-1 decision in the nightcap. The Dodgers went with a bullpen game in Game 2 and ended up using seven pitchers.

Eventually, Evan Phillips allowed the decisive homer to Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eighth inning.

“It’s a long day, but it’s the life we chose,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts. “At the end of the night, it’s baseball. We’ve got a bus ride tonight and we’ve got to be ready for Sanchez tomorrow. So it doesn’t get (any) easier.”

–Field Level Media

Michael Wacha has been the Kansas City Royals’ most consistent starting pitcher in 2026. Of late, however, he hasn’t looked like the All-Star he has been this season.

The 35-year-old right-hander has been exceptional during his career against the San Francisco Giants, who visit the Royals on Monday night.

Wacha (5-7, 3.77 ERA) ranks among the major league leaders with 12 quality starts. Just one reason he earned his second All-Star Game nod — 11 years after his only other such honor.

“Just the way I still love the game, and how much I love to prepare,” said Wacha, Monday’s scheduled starter for Kansas City. “I love to go out there and compete every day. I’m glad that the fire is still there.”

Wacha remains an inspiration and Royals management has stated it’s not actively shopping him in advance of the upcoming trade deadline.

However, he has allowed a combined 10 runs and four homers over 10 2/3 innings in losing each of his last two starts. In his most recent, at the New York Mets on July 9, Wacha matched a season high with six runs surrendered, plus three walks, across a season-low 4 2/3 innings.

Wacha has not faced the Giants since 2024, but he’s 3-1 with a stellar 1.94 ERA in 10 career starts against them.

Kansas City is last in the AL Central with 40 victories but took two of three from San Diego at home despite losing 19-2 on Sunday. Budding Royals star Jac Caglianone homered in that series finale, and has recorded seven extra-base hits during his 10-game hitting streak.

Teammate Bobby Witt Jr. was given the day off Sunday. Perhaps that rest will help the All-Star shortstop get back on track after batting .167 (6-for-36) with 10 strikeouts in his last eight games.

He’s batted .310 with six RBIs in 12 career games against the Giants.

San Francisco has just two more wins than Kansas City and will try to avoid a third straight defeat after dropping two of three at Seattle. The Giants managed just five hits during a 6-3 loss Sunday, and they have scored more than three runs twice while splitting their last six games.

“It’s not ideal, but all we can do (Monday) is come out and put our best game forward,” San Francisco left-hander Robbie Ray said.

Despite the Giants’ struggles, rookie Bryce Eldridge hit his 10th homer Sunday and is batting .320 with three homers, four RBIs and six walks in the last seven games.

The Giants are scheduled to start Trevor McDonald (3-7, 5.02), who allowed a homer and two other hits over seven strong innings against Colorado on July 12. It was a needed bounce back for the right-hander, who yielded eight runs and 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings versus Toronto in his previous start on July 7.

“Come back (from the All-Star break) with some confidence and momentum,” McDonald said. “I’m looking forward to the second half (of the season).”

This will be McDonald’s first appearance against the Royals.

San Francisco’s Luis Arraez is 6-for-16 (.375) with two home runs versus Wacha. Giants teammate Willy Adames is 3-for-8 against him.

Royals veteran Salvador Perez is batting .211 this season, but he’s two shy of tying George Brett’s franchise-record 317 career home runs. Perez has four homers in 72 career at-bats over 18 games versus San Francisco.

–Field Level Media

The Milwaukee Brewers are hoping hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski will benefit from extended rest over the break when he opens the three-game series against the visiting New York Mets and former teammate Freddy Peralta on Monday.

Misiorowski (10-4, 1.62 ERA) will be making his first start in almost two weeks against Peralta (5-8, 4.66), who was traded to New York in January after eight seasons with Milwaukee and will be facing his former team for the first time.

Milwaukee completed a sweep of the Miami Marlins with a 3-1 victory on Sunday on William Contreras’ walk-off three-run homer in the ninth inning.

The Mets defeated Philadelphia 6-1 on Sunday behind rookie right-hander Nolan McLean, who struck out 10 over six scoreless innings. Francisco Lindor had three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs.

Misiorowski, who was originally slated to start Tuesday but was bumped up a day, said he’s looking forward to the matchup against Peralta.

“That will be fun,” Misiorowski told MLB.com. “I want the best for Freddy. He’s an awesome guy. I love Freddy. … But he’s on the other team, so you’ve got to kick his (butt). That’s my job.”

Misiorowski, who leads the majors in ERA and strikeouts with 167, will be making his first start since July 7, when he allowed three runs on three hits, including two homers, over seven innings in a 4-3 win at St. Louis.

The 24-year-old right-hander, whose fastball routinely tops 100 mph, skipped his final start before the All-Star break due to arm fatigue. Misiorowski has thrown a career-high 111 innings in 18 starts after pitching 66 innings last season as a rookie in 15 regular-season appearances.

“I feel normal. I feel good,” Misiorowski said. “The rest was 100% good. I feel ready.”

Misiorowski was named to the All-Star team for the second time in his two seasons but did not pitch in last week’s game.

He has faced the Mets once, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss in a 7-3 defeat at New York last July.

Peralta, 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last season in 33 starts with Milwaukee, has been inconsistent with New York.

He was 2-2 with a 6.39 ERA in five starts in June and is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA in three starts this month.

The right-hander lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his last start on July 11, allowing two runs on three hits but walking five in a 92-pitch outing, taking the loss in a 4-0 home defeat against Boston.

“It’s a terrible, terrible feeling coming out before the fifth inning,” Peralta said afterward. “I’ve been struggling, and I’m just working on it, trying to navigate through this. It’s been difficult, but not impossible for me. I never lose the hope. Just keep working — that’s what I keep telling myself. And at some point, I’m going to navigate through it.”

Peralta has issued 44 walks — sixth most in the National League — in 104 1/3 innings and also allowed 15 home runs.

He pitched well at American Family Field during his time with the Brewers, going 40-20 with a 3.19 ERA in 112 games, including 84 starts.

–Field Level Media