Phillies to recall Andrew Painter ahead of series against Orioles
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The trade deadline is just a few days away, and the Phillies are still without a back-end starter.
Andrew Painter was expected to hold down the 5th starter role after making the Phillies’ opening-day roster out of Spring Training. In 14 games, he posted an ERA of 7.06. He started 12 games and went 1-8 while also striking out 53, walking 24, posting a 1.88 WHIP, and allowing 14 home runs in 65 innings.
On June 17, he was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after giving up six runs in just two innings against the Miami Marlins. 44 days later, he is back with the team.
Earlier this morning, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia confirmed that Andrew Painter was in Baltimore, and Matt Gelb of The Athletic confirmed he was getting the call. No corresponding roster move has been announced by the Phillies.
His role still remains a mystery. The Phillies are in the market for a starting pitcher at the deadline, and they have told teams they are looking for someone who can start a postseason game.
The Athletic’s Will Sammon has them showing interest in the Mets’ Freddy Peralta, and John Morosi of MLB Network reported the Phillies and Blue Jays emerged as trade partners, with Kevin Gausman being on their list of targets. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said the Phillies are also a long shot for Detroit ace Tarik Skubal.
Since Painter’s move to Lehigh Valley, the Phillies have not found a consistent rhythm of people who can start a 5th game. The club has used Brian Keller, Alan Rangel, and Tim Mayza as options, but none have ever been a mainstay on the team.
In five starts for the Iron Pigs, Painter started five games and posted a 4.56 ERA with 25 strikeouts, eight walks and a 1.44 WHIP in 23.2 innings. His most recent start came on July 26, pitching six innings of one-run ball and striking out five against the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate. He gave up eight hits and seven earned runs in 2.2 innings against the Guardians’ Triple-A squad on July 10.
With the trade deadline on Monday, the Phillies are looking to fill a void that has plagued them all season. They are still in the market for a starting pitcher, and it is unclear or not whether Painter will be up here to showcase himself for a possible trade or just a simple spot start.
The Phils are 3-9 since the All-Star break, having been swept out by the Miami Marlins. They sit tied for the second wild card spot with the Arizona Diamondbacks and have the second-worst team ERA in the National League since hosting the Midsummer Classic.
Andrew Glover
Andrew is in his first year covering sports for Philly Sports Reports. He is a podcaster and a digital content creator. Right now, he is in his second semester at Temple University pursuing a degree in Media Studies and Production. He has a certificate in Broadcast Journalism from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
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