Andrew Painter’s latest outing gave the Phillies exactly what they needed: a steady reset from a rookie starter who had stumbled, then responded.
After getting sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following a rough July 31 start against the Baltimore Orioles, Painter has looked far more like the highly touted arm the Phillies expected coming into the 2026 season. That demotion came after he posted a 7.06 ERA, including a brutal showing against the Miami Marlins when he allowed six earned runs in two innings. The assignment to the minors was about sharpening his fastball and building confidence, and for a stretch, it looked like both goals were being met.
Then came a setback against the Houston Astros. Painter was tagged for 10 hits, issued two walks, gave up five earned runs in five innings and served up two home runs, another reminder of the issue that had also followed him during his rookie campaign.
So the task at Truist Park against the Atlanta Braves was no easy one. Painter didn’t exactly have momentum on his side, but he handled the assignment well enough for the Phillies to stay in the game. His command came and went, and the traffic on the bases never really stopped - he walked four and allowed six hits - but he kept limiting the damage.
Painter finished with five innings, one earned run and three strikeouts. Philadelphia had already given him a 2-1 cushion on J.T. Realmuto’s two-run home run, and he held that advantage through his outing.
He won’t get the victory, though. Alex McFarlane covered a scoreless sixth, but Jose Alvarado gave up the lead in the seventh when Matt Olson singled in Michael Harris.
The Phillies still found a way to finish the job, and they did it in loud fashion. A seven-run eighth inning off Dylan Lee and Victor Mederos turned the game back in Philadelphia’s favor, sparked by a Bryson Stott double and followed by five RBI singles.
That kind of inning mattered. It showed the Phillies could stack runs without leaning on the home run ball, and it also paired nicely with Painter’s bounce-back start.
Both developments help Philadelphia as it pushes to hold the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the National League.
At the time of publication, the Chicago Cubs were losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates. If that result stands, the Phillies will be tied for the No. 1 spot in the Wild Card race.
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