The Philadelphia Phillies lost Zack Wheeler, a Cy Young candidate this season, and the team's top right-handed starter. It was a big blow, and the Phillies needed to find a solution in the rotation to replace him.
Aaron Nola had been struggling, though his recent outing against the New York Mets (six scoreless innings) was a great sign. But the Phillies, after adding Walker Buehler, had two choices for a sixth starter. They were Andrew Painter and Buehler.
Preston Mattingly, the Phillies general manager, revealed in a piece from Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the decision the team made regarding Painter. Mattingly revealed that Buehler's addition played a role in the team's Painter decision.
Andrew Painter is not expected to be in the rotation in 2025.
The reporting out there for the Phillies indicates that Painter, the team's top prospect and one of the top prospects in baseball, isn't expected to make his MLB debut in 2025. Instead, the team is going with Buehler. But as Mattingly revealed, there was a conversation about who the team would call up in September to be a sixth starter.
"It was definitely a conversation," Mattingly said. "I think we had multiple internal options, but I think we just thought that adding Buehler, there's some upside there."
Mattingly further clarified, "Not that there wouldn't be with Andy (Painter), or any of our internal options as well, but I think we have to do what's best for the player."
The Phillies are planning to call up Buehler to the Major League roster later in September to move to a six-man rotation, largely in part to help ease the burden on the current starting rotation.
Buehler's an experienced starter in the Majors, who was a two-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping them win multiple World Series (2020 and 2024). But after a rough stint with the Boston Red Sox, Buehler was released and signed by the Phillies.
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If Buehler wasn't cut or if he didn't sign in Philadelphia, Painter might've been in line to make his MLB debut in September to finish the regular season. But now, Buehler is the sixth starter, as he brings his 5.45 ERA to the Phillies to hopefully rebound and help the team make a postseason run in 2025.
Part of why the Phillies are going with Buehler over Painter is that Painter has struggled a bit and pitched a lot of innings this season. Painter has a 5.21 ERA across 114 innings pitched.
Keep in mind, Painter didn't pitch all of 2023 or 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. His 114 innings pitched in 2025 are also the most he's thrown in his career, and the Phillies, based on this decision, are being careful with Painter before his debut.
With the potential departure of Ranger Suarez and Wheeler's uncertainty for 2026, Painter has a good chance to make his debut after this season. But for now, the Phillies are going with Buehler over Painter to be the Phillies' sixth starter to finish the 2025 season.
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