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German Marquez and Cristopher Sanchez Square Off in First Latin American-Born Starting Pitcher Matchup of 2025 MLB Season

Matt TallariniApr 1, 20254 MIN READ
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez throws during his March 31, 2025 start against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.

Cristopher Sanchez and German Marquez squared off Monday in Philadelphia’s home opener. At the same time, Martin Perez dazzled for the White Sox, spotlighting Latin American pitching in the first full week of the 2025 MLB season.

Philadelphia defeated Colorado 6-1 in South Philadelphia to improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Rockies fell to 1-3.

While Japan’s Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto faced off during the MLB Tokyo Series on March 20, the duel between Marquez and Sanchez marked the first Latin American-born starting pitcher matchup of the 2025 Major League Baseball season in the United States.

Marquez, 30, from San Felix, Bolivar, Venezuela, has been with the Rockies since 2016 and was named an All-Star in 2021. Entering the season, he carried a 15.9 WAR over nine MLB seasons. He had made 177 appearances, including 174 starts, posting a 65-56 record with a 4.42 ERA across 1,020 innings. His career totals include four complete games, two shutouts, 986 strikeouts, 306 walks, and a 1.287 WHIP.

In 2024, Marquez started only once, throwing four innings on July 14 against the New York Mets. He allowed five hits, three earned runs, one home run, four walks, and struck out three while throwing 70 pitches, 41 for strikes. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 19 with right elbow inflammation and later moved to the 60-day injured list on August 23, ending his season.

Making his return to the mound in 2025, Marquez threw six scoreless innings in Monday’s start, allowing four hits, walking none, and striking out four. He threw 83 pitches, 52 for strikes.

But once Marquez exited, the Rockies bullpen unraveled—surrendering six earned runs over the next two innings, with relievers Alexander, Vodnik, and Blalock each giving up a pair.

Cristopher Sanchez Delivers Solid Start in Phillies’ Home Opener

Sanchez, 28, was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and joined the Phillies in 2021. He earned his first career All-Star selection in 2024.

Across his first four seasons, Sanchez entered the day with a 5.3 WAR and a 17-16 record. In 72 appearances, including 53 starts, he carried a 3.70 ERA over 333.2 innings, recording two complete games, one shutout, and one save. He had 297 strikeouts, 84 walks, and a 1.223 WHIP.

Sanchez pitched 5.1 innings in the Phillies’ home opener, giving up four hits, one earned run, and two walks while striking out seven. The lone run came on a solo homer by Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman in the sixth inning.

He threw 93 pitches—59 for strikes—in the outing.

Perez Shines in Return, But Combined No-Hitter Falls Short

Venezuelan left-hander Martín Perez impressed in his 2025 debut for the Chicago White Sox, tossing six scoreless innings in a 9-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

Perez didn’t allow a hit, walked three, and struck out nine. He exited with a commanding lead after 93 pitches, 54 strikes, including 11 swinging. Chicago’s bullpen—Mike Vasil and Brandon Eisert—allowed a pair of hits over the final three innings to preserve the shutout, not the no-hitter.

The White Sox signed Perez on January 21 to a one-year, $5 million deal. He elected free agency on October 31, 2024, before making the move to the South Side.

Perez, 33, from Guanare, Venezuela, has pitched in 13 Major League seasons. He debuted with the Texas Rangers in 2012 and had a second stint with the club from 2022–23. He also spent time with the Minnesota Twins in 2019, the Boston Red Sox from 2020–21, and began the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the San Diego Padres on July 30. Left-hander Ronaldys Jimenez was sent to Pittsburgh in the deal.

A 2022 All-Star and 2023 World Series champion, Perez owns a 14.4 career WAR with a 4.44 ERA in 314 appearances, including 269 starts. He holds a 90-87 record with four complete games and three shutouts, throwing 1,575.2 innings and allowing 1,710 hits, 778 earned runs, 185 home runs, 568 walks, and 1,109 strikeouts. His career WHIP is 1.446.

The White Sox (2-2) will continue their three-game home series against the Twins (0-4) on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:40 p.m. EDT.

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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