(Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

Cristopher Sanchez looked like a Cy Young Award contender in his season debut.

The Philadelphia Phillies ace will try to author a strong performance Wednesday afternoon when he faces the visiting Washington Nationals in the decisive contest of a three-game set.

After finishing as the runner-up in the last year's National League Cy Young Award race, Sanchez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) signed a six-year, $107 million contract extension with Philadelphia last month. The left-hander certainly was worth the money in his 2026 debut, as he limited the Texas Rangers to three hits over six scoreless innings on Thursday.

'His changeup was falling off the table,' manager Rob Thomson said after Sanchez struck out 10 batters without a walk. 'It gets better as the game goes on. Usually, that's why he is better the third time through (the lineup) because he gets a feel for it. (The pitch) has more bottom to it as he gets fatigued.'

Sanchez has appeared in 11 career games (eight starts) against Washington, going 3-2 with a 3.78 ERA.

He will be opposed Wednesday by Cade Cavalli (0-0, 4.91 ERA), who made two starts against the Phillies last season and held them to three runs in 13 innings (2.08 ERA). The right-hander lasted just 3 2/3 innings on Opening Day this year, yielding three runs (two earned) in 3 2/3 innings on Thursday, but the Nationals still prevailed 10-4 over the Chicago Cubs.

'It was great,' Cavalli said. 'I'm so pumped that we got a win today and that I was able to start us off. The offense backed me up like crazy. It just means a lot.'

Washington captured the opener of the current series 13-2 on Monday behind a 17-hit attack, including three by Jose Tena. The offense didn't make nearly as much noise on Tuesday as the Nationals managed only one run in 5 1/3 innings against Andrew Painter, the top pitching prospect in the Phillies' organization who was making his major league debut.

'I thought the at-bats were fine,' Washington manager Blake Butera said after his side's 3-2 defeat on Tuesday. 'I just thought he pitched really well.'

Thomson certainly agreed with that assessment of the 22-year-old right-hander.

'If we can keep him healthy, this guy's going to be really good for a long time. ... He's one of those upper-echelon guys,' Thomson said. 'He's got a combination of power and command. The future is bright for him.'

Kyle Schwarber and Adolis Garcia supported Painter with solo home runs, helping Philadelphia bounce back from taking three losses in four games to begin the season.

The Nationals are on the opposite path. After winning three of four to begin the campaign, Washington is aiming to avoid its first set of back-to-back defeats this season.

Daylen Lile was the Nationals' standout star at the plate on Tuesday, delivering two singles and a double in four at-bats. The second-year outfielder has hit safely in every game this season and has notched multiple hits in each of the past three games.

'Super clean and simple. Pitch selection has been really good,' Butera said. 'The combination of swinging at good pitches with the swing that he has -- good things will happen.'

--Field Level Media