DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 2: Genesis Cabrera #92 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts to a teammates run off of a triple in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 2, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies enjoyed a sweep of the San Diego Padres that came with a historic celebration on Wednesday.
Starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez set the all-time franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings in the game, breaking a mark that was set by Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1911.
“The Phillies’ fearless left-hander extended his scoreless innings streak to 44 2/3 innings Wednesday in the Phillies’ 3-0 win over the Padres, completing seven more scoreless frames as the Phils finished off a sweep at Petco Park,” Cole Weintraub wrote for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He has not allowed a run since the first inning of his April 30 start against the (San Francisco) Giants.”
Sanchez’s incredible streak has helped fuel a turnaround for the Phillies, who are surging in the standings ever since the front office replaced long-time manager Rob Thomson with Don Mattingly. But even though the team’s rotation has been a strength during that run, the bullpen has some question marks.
Philadelphia Phillies Cut 7-Year MLB Veteran After Brutal Outing
Middle relief options like Kyle Backhus, Tanner Banks and Jose Alvarado have struggled, and the team doesn’t have much depth to call upon from the minor leagues.
The Phillies recently cut ties with one veteran reliever who might have been a big-league option, after seven-year major-league veteran Genesis Cabrera endured a brutal outing on the mound.
Earlier this month, Cabrera gave up eight earned runs in just one-third of an inning against the Rochester Red Wings, which marked his final appearance for the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The organization released Cabrera shortly after that outing and now he has found a new home.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Former Pitcher Joins Kansas City Royals On Minor-League Deal
According to the official transaction log, the Kansas City Royals have signed Cabrera to a minor-league contract and assigned him to their own Triple-A affiliate earlier this week.
The Royals are likely hoping that Cabrera can return to the type of production he enjoyed earlier in his big-league career. For instance, in 71 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, he maintained a 3.73 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 70 innings. Interestingly enough, that season also included a scary moment in which Cabrera inadvertently hit Phillies slugger Bryce Harper in the face with a fastball.
Cabrera is also a veteran of two campaigns with the Toronto Blue Jays, in 2023 and 2024. He logged two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning for the Blue Jays in the American League Wildcard Series against the Minnesota Twins in 2023.
Though it might seem like a longshot that Cabrera can rediscover his best form, particularly after his most recent outing with the Phillies’ affiliate, perhaps a change of scenery can help him bounce back. The Royals, who sit at the bottom of the American League Central division, can certainly hope so.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/05/29/blue-jays-former-pitcher-finds-new-home-after-brutal-game-leads-to-phillies-cut/
