Andrew Painter is headed to Lehigh Valley, and the Phillies schedule now has a fifth-starter hole to fill for the trip to Washington. The move pushes the team to choose between Bryse Wilson, Alan Rangel or a bullpen game for Monday.
Preston Mattingly said the club has not put a timetable on Painter’s return. He also said, “It’s TBD at this point when he comes back. But I think we all know as an organization that we’re going to need him.”
Lehigh Valley And The Rotation
Painter reported to Lehigh Valley to work on a fastball that has not overpowered many major-league hitters. He carries a 7.06 ERA and a 1-8 record, and the Phillies are 3-9 in his starts. Opponents are batting.404 and slugging.660 against that pitch.
The Phillies believe the problem is mostly delivery-related. Dave Dombrowski said, “Most of it is delivery-oriented,” and the club expects Painter to throw multiple bullpen sessions before his first start for Lehigh Valley. He is not expected back until after the second half opens.
Bryse Wilson Or Alan Rangel
Bryse Wilson has already been added to cover Painter’s roster spot. He threw 29 pitches in two scoreless innings of relief Thursday night against the Mets, and he has a 6.29 ERA in triple A. Wilson has also appeared in 164 major-league games, including 57 starts.
Alan Rangel gives the Phillies another path. He has a 3.99 ERA in 14 games, including 11 starts, and he had 27 walks in 70 innings. He would be on regular rest Monday, which keeps him in the mix if the club wants a starter rather than a short opener.
Washington And Bulk Inning
Don Mattingly said the club is not eager to chain relievers together for nine innings. “There’s no plan to just go two innings and then try to do the whole thing with a bullpen. It won’t be that kind of game. We’ll definitely have bulk in there,” he said.
That leaves one start to sort out before the trip settles in. Zack Wheeler is scheduled to start at home Sunday night against the Mets, then Jesús Luzardo moves back one day to avoid overtaxing the bullpen by splitting up Painter’s spot and Aaron Nola. The Washington rotation lines up with a No. 5 starter Monday, Luzardo Tuesday, Nola Wednesday and Cristopher Sánchez Thursday, and that fifth spot will come around four times before the All-Star break.
For the Phillies, the immediate task is simple: cover Monday without stretching the bullpen too far. Which of Bryse Wilson, Alan Rangel or a bulk-heavy game gets that start will shape the next four turns of the rotation before the break.
