Phillies Starters Take The Weekend Slots, Don’t Miss A Beat

With the month of March beginning, Spring Training continues to roll along. For the most part, the starting pitchers on the mound in each game have been a Minor Leaguer who more than likely won’t see the Majors this season, or a bullpen arm just stretching his arm out.

However, we finally got to see several members of the Major League rotation start Spring Training games, and they did not disappoint. Plus, Zack Wheeler continues to make progress on his rehab.

Zack Wheeler

Now, Wheeler was not one of the starters who appeared in the weekend stretches of games. Obviously, since he is still recovering from his Thoracic Outlet Surgery. What makes Wheeler important to look at here is the fact that he, for the first time since August last season, pitched off a mound. An activity from Wheeler that has come very quickly this spring, an extremely positive sign for a pitcher that many expected as late as the beginning of camp to not be back on the team until late May or into June. Now, Wheeler is on a pace that sets him up to rejoin the team potentially by the beginning of May.

Taijuan Walker

The clear and obvious weakest link of the rotation currently, and the obvious option to be moved out of the rotation and into the bullpen once Wheeler returns. Because of that, Walker comes into the final year of his 4-year contract with minimal pressure on his shoulders. Which is very good for a pitcher who, at this stage of his career, is really a 5, maybe a 4 in a rotation.

Walker took the bump for the first time this spring last Thursday against the Washington Nationals, and while his numbers in his 2 innings of work aren’t the most eye-catching in the world, his numbers are certainly satisfactory for a pitcher in Walker’s position. In his 2 innings of work, Walker struck out 1 and gave up 1 run along with 3 hits, as well as no walks given up. Looking into his pitches, he maxed out his velocity at 92 mph, averaging between 90-92, and tacked on a curveball that went as low as 73. Definitely numbers that aren’t eye-popping, but numbers that didn’t cost the Phillies as they went on to win 7-3, and that’s all Walker has to do this season while in the rotation.

Aaron Nola

Nola is the longest tenured Phillie on the roster and is coming off undoubtedly his worst season as a Major Leaguer. A season that Nola would like to leave in the past, he got his first chance to do so in his Friday start at BayCare Ballpark against the Miami Marlins. On a cloudy day in Clearwater, Nola tossed 2 innings of work, where he struck out 2, gave up 2 hits, no walks, and a run, a run that did not come off a homer, which Nola historically struggles with.

Looking through his pitches on the day, he got as high as 93 on the fastball (sinker specifically) and averaged 90-93. There were several at-bats that you could see Nola not pound the zone very well, but it didn’t hurt his effectiveness in getting outs. He also had a textbook Nola knuckle-curve strikeout against Christopher Morel in the 2nd.

Overall, Nola had a good day in his first start and will get one more on Wednesday against Team Canada before he leaves the team to join Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

Cristopher Sanchez

Sanchez enters the Spring looking to build off his Cy Young runner-up season last year, and he started that mission Saturday against the defending American League Champions, the Toronto Blue Jays. Sanchez, like Nola and Walker, only pitched 2 innings, but in those 2 innings, he looked no different, maybe even better, than last season. Sanchez pitched a shutout over those 2 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out a phenomenal 4 Blue Jays.

His velocity was in the realm of 93-95 mph, including getting a strikeout at 95. His changeup, one argued to be the best changeup in baseball, was absolutely stellar, with great movement, and was the punch-out pitch for 3 of his 4 strikeouts. Sanchez will get time as a member of the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic this month.

Andrew Painter

The top pitching prospect for the Phillies started the team’s Sunday afternoon game against the New York Yankees on March 1st, a full 3 years to the day since he last started a Spring Training game back in 2023. For a prospect like Painter, one likely being in the Opening Day rotation, barring injury, means his numbers, while they do matter, his health is paramount, along with the fact that he’s hitting his spots and maintains good control and velocity throughout the Spring. If Painter also has numbers to go with it, that’s a cherry on top, and Sunday, he gave us a cherry.

Against the Yankees, Painter pitched 2 perfect innings, allowing no runs, hits, or walks, and struck out a batter to end the 1st inning. He really emphasized the four-seam against several opponents, including outfielder Trenth Grisham, who saw 3 of the 4 pitches he saw being four-seamers before popping out to Trea Turner. A lot of contact was given up, but none were more than routine plays for outs. His fastball averaged within 95-97, maxing out at just under 98 mph against Jasson Dominguez. A stellar pitching performance for a player with a lot of hype behind him, and he could be a Rookie of the Year candidate this season.

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