ATLANTA -- While most of the Phillies filtered down the tunnel toward the visitors’ clubhouse following Tuesday afternoon’s stunning loss to the Braves, Cristopher Sánchez lingered briefly in the dugout.
"I saw him at the end of the game," said Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, "and it just looked like he was staring out there at the mound. So I think that he knows what he's going to be tasked with for tomorrow."
That task is simple: Keep Philadelphia’s season alive.
It won’t be easy for the Phillies following their 5-3 loss to the Braves in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park. They now need to win back-to-back games to avoid elimination -- something only three of the previous 24 teams to lose Game 1 in a best-of-three Wild Card Series have managed to do (2020 Padres, 2020 Athletics, 2025 Yankees).
If the Phillies have any hopes of becoming the fourth, it all starts on Wednesday afternoon with Sánchez on the hill.
"I just try to be my best self every time I'm out there on the mound and try to go out there and compete every time that I can," Sánchez said via interpreter Diego D'Aniello. "It's a short series, so it's just about going out there and putting as many zeros on the board as I can. On my end, it's about being able to put the team in a good position to win."
Sánchez certainly does that more often than not.
He continued his emergence as one of the game's best pitchers this season by putting together another Cy Young-caliber campaign after finishing as the runner-up last season to Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
As for this year, Sánchez ranked second in the NL in strikeouts (231), second in innings pitched (207) and sixth in ERA (2.91). He did not allow a run for the entire month of May as part of his historic 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak.
But all that matters now is what he does in Game 2.
"Always feel good with Cristopher out there," Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. "The playoffs are momentum-based, it seems like, and really, momentum starts with your starting pitcher."
Now, while the Phillies have the utmost confidence in Sánchez regardless of the mound he's pitching from, it's hard to ignore what he's done pitching on the road compared to pitching within the comforts of Citizens Bank Park.
Sánchez has talked often about how much he loves pitching at home -- and for good reason. He went 12-3 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 home starts this season. He was 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA at home last season.
But on the road?
Sánchez went 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA this season. His career road ERA (3.92) is more than a full run higher than it is at home (2.60).
"It's just about remaining calm and remaining focused when you're about to hit the field," Sánchez said of his Game 2 assignment. "It's about keeping focus on what we do on the field."
Sánchez, of course, also has plenty of familiarity with the Braves.
He's faced them nine times (eight starts) in his career. Four of those starts have come over the past two seasons.
But he has never beaten Atlanta. Sánchez is 0-5 against the Braves -- though that mark may be a bit deceiving. Despite the ugly record, he has a respectable 3.26 ERA in those nine outings, including a 2.19 ERA in four meetings since the start of last season.
That said, some of Atlanta's best hitters have given Sánchez some trouble in the past. Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley are a combined 28-for-72 (.389) against the Phillies' co-ace.
But again, none of that matters come Wednesday.
All that matters is what Sánchez does once he takes the mound. The same mound he was so locked in on before departing the ballpark on Tuesday evening.
"Just trying to get a little taste of what it will be like being out there tomorrow," Schwarber said. "Any time he takes the ball for us, we're always excited for that, and we're excited to get out here tomorrow and play a game.
"Let's go. You know what I mean? That's our guy."