Andrew Painter has reported to Lehigh Valley, and the Phillies now have to patch the opening he left in their rotation before the club reaches Washington. The move sends him away from the majors for a stretch while the team decides which arm will take the fifth start.
That question matters now because the Phillies have already mapped the next series: Zack Wheeler goes at home Sunday night against the Mets, then the rotation in Washington is set for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Jesús Luzardo moves back a day, Aaron Nola stays on line, and Cristopher Sánchez follows, leaving the Monday assignment to be filled.
Bryse Wilson is the immediate name in the mix after being called up to fill Painter’s roster spot. He covered Thursday night against the Mets with 29 pitches in two scoreless innings of relief, and that usage gives the Phillies a live option if they want to avoid stretching the rest of the staff. Alan Rangel is the other realistic choice, with a 3.99 ERA in 14 games and 11 starts, though he also has walked 27 batters in 70 innings.
Don Mattingly made clear the club does not want to solve this by stitching together nine innings one reliever at a time. He said there is no plan to go two innings and then finish the night with a bullpen parade, and that the Phillies will definitely have bulk in the game. That makes a starter-like option more likely for Monday, even if the club still has not named one.
Painter’s demotion was about getting him right, not punishing him. His fastball has not overpowered major-league hitters, and opponents are batting.404 against it with a.660 slugging percentage. The Phillies believe the problem comes mostly from his delivery, and Dave Dombrowski said he will throw multiple bullpen sessions before making his first start for Lehigh Valley. Preston Mattingly said the club has not put a timetable on Painter’s return and is not sure how long the adjustment will take.
That uncertainty is the catch for the Phillies. They need Painter later, not right now, but they also need the rotation to survive the next four turns before the All-Star break, and Painter is not expected back until after the second half opens. For the moment, the safest read is that Monday in Washington belongs to Wilson unless the Phillies decide Rangel gives them the cleaner start; either way, Painter’s path back begins with bullpen work, not a return date.
