Phillies News and Discussion 2025 Season

[andyb]

Gelb article on the Athletic has one interesting note in Painter who is pitching twice this week (Tuesday and Sunday). Apparently this will be the first 4-day rest start in his pro career and is one of the last boxes they want him to check.

With the team reeling somewhat I would not be shocked if Painter got promoted by the end of June. Maybe Abel becomes a bullpen option at that point. I know we are kind of joking asking for Romano to be DFA'ed, but the reality is we have nobody we can trust there. Stahm would get overextended closing. I guess Kerkering could close but not sure he is ready for that either.

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

I surely hope that they don't panic and move Painter up before he's ready. I know they have an expensive team and are built to win, but if it's not in the cards, you have to throw in the towel. You can't make ridiculous mistakes, and that'll hurt the team for many years.

[andyb]

Wheeler activated, Robert sent down. Guessing they like Lazar's ability to go 2 innings which they have needed recently.

[biggsphils]

I wouldn't mess with Abel at this point by moving him to the pen. He finally seems to have figured things out as a starter. I would try Painter in the pen for the rest of season and then sign a bonafide closer in the offseason. Still going to need at least 1 more high end reliever before trade deadline.

[zambonir]

You can never have enough pitching, indeed.

An MRI showed a stress reaction in Aaron Nola’s right rib cage, Rob Thomson said. Nola will not throw for at least two weeks. A rather significant setback that probably means he doesn’t return until after All-Star break.

— Matt Gelb ( @mattgelb.bsky.social ) June 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM

Phillies’ Aaron Nola shut down from throwing, likely out until All-Star break

[EDmuch]

I am wondering if Nola had these injuries since the start of the season and they explain how poorly he started the season

[zambonir]

That would make a lot of sense, that he was struggling with some kind of upper-body discomfort, and would be a reason for optimism, but it does not seem to be the case. The pain only started last week. It really sounds like he got the flu or COVID - go figure! - had a bad cough, and suffered the injury from that. There have been previous MLB players injured from sneezing.

The ankle is definitely something he pitched through for a bit, but not all season. He had just started to do better when that became an issue.

Run support was also an issue of course (early on especially).

[Deadgmwalking]

Injuries like that can linger for a while.

Years ago had a partial separation of my ribs from a persistent cough that took months to heal. Easily the most discomfort I've ever experienced. Scar tissue bothered me every once in a while (when I sat in my wife's car for whatever reason) for a few years.

[Callison]

The Phils' pen should be renamed "The Wheel Of Fortune". IMHO, they have to acquire an arm or two for the pen to compete.

Sorry to hear about Nola's continued physical problems. MAYBE he can be physically ready again in a month. But IMHO he needs to fix the mental game just as much.

Let's hope Painter is everything he seems to be. Apparently we won't see him until after the AS break - always been the plan.

[andyb]

With Abel struggling last time out Painter has another potential opportunity to claim a rotation spot. Another couple bad starts by Abel coupled with good AAA starts by Painter (something that did not happen last night) and he'll get a shot. The after the AS break narrative was always predicated on the hope of not needing him until then and his presence would be a bonus. Nola's injury and Walker's permanent demotion change that equation a bit.

[zambonir]

I think that's probably true but I hope it doesn't have to be. It's probably three starts away from being considered (Abel would have to be that bad and they probably want Painter to make another pair of starts on four days rest (after the upcoming one). That gets us to July 1 or so. Still might need both of them before Nola is truly ready. A six-man might also work for both of them (don't let Abel go three times through and don't let Painter pitch too many innings) but of course then you are relying on this fragile bullpen just as much.

Of course in the category of "things change," they could also make Walker a starter again after all.

[andyb]

They probably can't think of a 6-man rotation with this bullpen. And I said the after the AS break narrative for Painter was based upon hoping they did not need him. He was the 7th or 8th starter at the time. Now he's the 6th starter without Nola and Walker.

Things change. We hoped Painter would not be the 6th starter at this point. If there is another injury in the rotation now I think it is highly likely Painter would take the spot.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Someone tell the bot that it’s OK to follow todays game - Luzardo appears to have figured something out and he’s not getting unmercifully bombed.

[zambonir]

Sometimes the bot sleeps past 1pm I think

Just as importantly, the bats are here.

[andyb]

The bot was so stunned by the Carlos Hernandez DFA (for Mercado) that it just needs a little time.

[zambonir]

Oh wow, hadn't seen.

[zambonir]

I've only been half-watching while working, didn't realize which Cubs pitcher we were lighting up. Nice.

[andyb]

Gelb on deadline options here. It feels like the Phillies want one or two relievers (with velocity) and will entertain replacing Kepler. Abel, Escobar, and Tait seem the prospects most likely to be dangled. Abel in particular would slip behind Painter on the depth chart if Nola also comes back around that early July timeframe.

Phillies MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch

[Philsmania]

The bot was so stunned by the Carlos Hernandez DFA (for Mercado) that it just needs a little time.

I thought Hernandez was actually beginning to show something.

[Philsmania]

Gelb on deadline options here. It feels like the Phillies want one or two relievers (with velocity) and will entertain replacing Kepler. Abel, Escobar, and Tait seem the prospects most likely to be dangled. Abel in particular would slip behind Painter on the depth chart if Nola also comes back around that early July timeframe.

Phillies MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch

Of course, it's possible that it just took Abel a long time to figure things out and will be what the envisioned when they expended a first round pick on him, but, at the same time, you have to wonder if he might be a good "sell high" candidate.