Phillies Stars Emerging from the Malaise – May 6, 2026
Bryce Harper, 1B (PHI)
Harper is heating up. After going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs on Tuesday, the Phillies superstar has raised his slash line to .286/.377/.571. He has six hits and three home runs in his past two games. His sluggish start is a distant memory, even as his Statcast numbers are slow to climb towards his career norms. Harper always performs best in the warmer summer months so the upward trajectory should continue. In a world filled with uncertainty, Bryce Harper crushing baseballs is a foregone conclusion.
Cristopher Sanchez, SP (PHI)
Sanchez was magnificent on Tuesday. The National League Cy Young runner-up blanked the Athletics for eight innings, allowing only three hits and a walk while striking out 10. It was his second double-digit K performance and third scoreless appearance. He absolutely flummoxed the A’s with 23 whiffs and a spectacular 51% CSW rate on his changeup. Six of Sanchez’s eight starts have come at home where his ERA sits below 2.00 for the second-straight year. Sanchez should be right back in that Cy Young mix as he solidifies himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Liam Hicks, C (MIA)
Hicks’ torrid campaign continued on Tuesday. The second-year catcher posted his second-career four-hit game. Three singles and a home run lifted his OPS to a sensational .947. He extended his career-best home run total to eight, and his batting average is up to .321. The Marlins called up promising rookie catcher Joe Mack, but Hicks is not going to lose playing time with the way he’s been playing. In fact, he’s close to becoming eligible at first base, which should happen with Mack in the mix. As for HIcks, his quality-of-contact numbers aren’t too strong, which probably means his 21% HR/FB rate will regress. On the other hand, his plate discipline is extraordinary. With his 90+% contact rate, even mediocre hard-hit rates should produce strong offensive production, particularly at the catcher position. He’s been one of the best players at his position, and there’s a high enough floor here to commit to Hicks, even in shallower leagues.
Tony Santillan, RP (CIN)
Santillan may be the new closer in Cincinnati, although not if he performs like he did on Tuesday. For the second night in a row, the Reds bullpen gave up a late lead. This time Santillan surrendered a solo home run to Michael Busch in the 8th, tying the game at 2. The next inning Reds closer Emilio Pagan suffered a hamstring injury that looked quite serious. If Pagan misses time, Santillan is the most likely player to fill the closer’s role, although Graham Ashcraft could be in the mix as well. Santillan has not been as crisp recently as he was in his first 11 appearances of the season when he went 10.2 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and seven holds. Since then he has given up five runs, including three home runs, in five innings. He is 3rd in MLB in holds, but now he may be more in line for saves. This isn’t a guaranteed success, however. Santillan’s got a walk and home run problem, problematic issues for a closer, especially in Cincinnati. The Reds could shop for an established closer, but for now, Santillan is the obvious pickup.
Michael Busch, 1B (CHC)
Busch was the hero for the Cubs on Tuesday. His 8th-inning home run off Tony Santillan tied the game, and then his 10th-inning RBI single won it. He added another single and a walk in the contest as he tries to dig his underwhelming ratios out of his early-season slump. Coming off a fantastic season in 2025, the Cubs have committed to Busch as their everyday 1st baseman, but his struggles against left-handed pitching doesn’t appear to be resolved. Meanwhile, he hasn’t done much better against righties, although he has been better lately. Busch has three multi-hit games in his past five with six extra-base hits and eight RBI’s. Perhaps the warmer weather is key to Busch digging out of this rut. His average exit velocity so far this season is nearly 6-mph lower than 2025. Again though, lately that’s been better. The Cubs don’t have a ton of great options at first base behind Busch so in all likelihood, he will remain the guy, through the ups and downs.
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