Philadelphia currently holds a 37-31 record but remains behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. For Friday’s game, the Phillies plan to deploy Andrew Painter in an unconventional role. They will also face Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who along with Chris Sanchez—is considered a contender for the NL Cy Young Award. Additionally, the Phillies announced a shift in how Painter will be used in this contest.
Tanner Banks to Serve as Opener for Phillies on Friday
According to a report from UnderdogMLB, the Phillies intend to use left-hander Tanner Banks as an opener ahead of Andrew Painter in Friday night’s game. After Banks finishes his outing, Painter is expected to pitch for as long as he’s able.
Roughly three hours before the first pitch of the Phillies–Brewers series, UnderdogMLB also shared the team’s lineup:
Phillies 6/12:
K. Schwarber (DH), T. Turner (SS), B. Harper (1B), B. Marsh (LF), A. Bohm (3B), B. Stott (2B), G. Rincones Jr. (RF), J. Realmuto (C), J. Crawford (CF), T. Banks (SP)
Notable from the lineup: Rincones Jr. gets the start in right field following the news about Adolis García.
As for Andrew Painter, he has struggled in his starts this season, so this change of pace might help him get back on track.
Andrew Painter’s Season So Far
The Phillies selected Painter in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. After he dominated in the minors, the team believed he could develop into a pitcher reminiscent of Zack Wheeler. However, Painter is learning the hard way that being a starter in the big leagues can be a grind.
He made his MLB debut this year. Over 11 starts and 58 innings, Painter is 1-7 with a 6.21 ERA and only 47 strikeouts. His ERA+ sits at 71—29 points below league average.
Again, this adjustment might be just what Andrew Painter needs. If not, the Phillies may have to send him back to the minors to build up his confidence for the future. He’s still only 23 years old.
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