The Philadelphia Phillies recalled right-hander Andrew Painter from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday, setting up the 23-year-old to start against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. To make room on the 26-man roster, the club optioned Brian Keller to Lehigh Valley.
Prior to tonight’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Phillies recalled RHP Andrew Painter from Lehigh Valley (AAA). To make room for him on the 26-man roster, RHP Brian Keller was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
It’s another shot for Painter, who struggled mightily in his first extended MLB look earlier this season. Across 14 appearances with Philadelphia, he went 1-8 with a 7.06 ERA, battling command issues that eventually sent him back to the minors.
The question now is whether his time in Triple-A helped him find some answers.
What Changed in Triple-A
Painter made five starts for the Iron Pigs, and the results were mixed but encouraging in spots. He had some rough outings – including one where he lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs. But he also showed flashes of the pitcher the Phillies believe he can be, including a start where he struck out eight over five innings.
Overall, Painter posted a 4.56 ERA in those five Triple-A starts while fanning 25 batters for a 9.5 SO9 rate. That strikeout rate suggests he’s still got the stuff that made him a top prospect.
The real test comes Friday night against Baltimore. The Orioles haven’t been world-beaters at the plate this season, slashing .237/.321/.394 as a team with 127 home runs – right around league average. That should give Painter a decent matchup to see if he’s made the adjustments he needs.
First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EST. For Painter, it’s a chance to show the Phillies that his earlier struggles were just growing pains rather than a sign of things to come.
