2025 Philadelphia Phillies Outlook: Starting Pitching

They say pitching wins championships in baseball, and in 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies look to do just that.

After having one of the best starting rotations in baseball last season, the Phillies will look to have the best rotation in baseball. On top of returning all five of their starters from the previous season, Dave Dombrowski went out and acquired another arm to help make this already top pitching rotation even better.

Realistically, all five of the Phillies’ starting pitchers have a good chance of making the All-Star team and have an opportunity to be in Cy Young consideration. Time will tell how great this group can be, but all signs are pointing towards this being the best Phillies rotation of all time.

The team is led by arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Zack Wheeler. Wheeler is coming off another fantastic year in 2024, one where he finished second in Cy Young for the second time as a Phillie, and 12th in MVP voting. Since signing with the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler has been well worth his contract and then some, and at 35 years old, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down his dominant pitching.

Following Wheeler is the longest tenured player on the Phillies, Aaron Nola. Nola is entering his 11th season in Philly since being drafted in the first round. While at times he has struggled, he has been the definition of consistency throughout his time in pinstripes.

Nola has made 32 starts or more every year since 2018 (not including the Covid-shortened season in 2020) and nears 200 innings as well, missing the mark by just two outs last year. The right-hander has problems giving up home runs and gets into jams more than you would like, but you can’t deny he’s still a top pitcher in baseball year after year.

Filling out the rest of the rotation are the Phillies’ three left-handed pitchers. Starting with someone the team, and the rest of the baseball world feels is due for a breakout year, in Christopher Sanchez. Sanchez broke out in 2024, making his first All-Star team and being awarded a new four-year contract. Sanchez will look to take an even bigger step forward this season and possibly find his way to winning a Cy Young.

Joining the group is a fellow left-hander, Jesús Luzardo, who was acquired over the winter for Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd. Luzardo was one of the few bright spots on the Marlins, and the Phillies were able to get him for a very decent price. The problem with Luzardo is his health, as he’s only made over 20 starts in a season once. He has the stuff to be a great pitcher in this league, and as long as he stays healthy, Luzardo could be the underrated gem of the team this season.

Last but certainly not least, we have Ranger Suarez. Suarez was another breakout star pitcher for the Phillies in 2024, having a fantastic first half of the season, which led to him making his first All-Star game. The second half of the season didn’t go as well, and Suarez struggled to get back to his All-Star ways.

Unfortunately, we won’t see Suarez to open up the season. The lefty felt tightness in his back during spring training and will open up the year on the IL (Injured List). Dombrowski stated that he doesn’t think Suarez will be out long, but the 29-year-old has dealt with back issues in the past, including missing a month last season, causing his great start to 2024 to end in a disappointing one.

With Suarez in a contract year, the Phillies could end up not resigning him and trading him before the trade deadline. They could also keep him and keep the rotation elite all year. If the Phillies are going to keep Suarez in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future, he’s going to have to prove that he can continue to be a star.

Filling in for Suarez to open up the season is who else but Taijuan Walker? It’s been a very rocky tenure in Philadelphia for Walker, as he has statistically been one of the worst starting pitchers across all of baseball since joining the Phillies in 2023. Walker has become an inning-eater for the Phillies, and that continued to be true after an awful spring training from the right-hander. While Walker will fill in the rotation for now, it’s only a matter of time before they cut ties with the right-hander.

While the rotation is set, there is another pitcher who could find his way into the group by the name of Andrew Painter. Painter, the Phillies’ top prospect and eighth overall prospect in baseball, is finishing up his rehab from Tommy John surgery and is nearly ready to join the Majors.

The Phillies feel that when he makes it to the show, he’ll be a full-time starting pitcher and could run a six-man rotation. While they may cause some problems for pitchers like Wheeler and Nola, who are used to pitching every five days, a rotation of Wheeler, Nola, Sanchez, Suarez, Luzardo, and Painter is no doubt the best in baseball.

Moves could be made, like trading Suarez and making Painter the fifth starter full-time, or Painter himself could be traded, but that option seems unlikely. No matter what they do, the Phillies’ rotation will no doubt be one of the best in all of baseball.

---

Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order

Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO