PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have confirmed their starting pitcher for the opening game of a crucial three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, as both teams jockey for position in the National League playoff race. Right-hander Andrew Painter is set to take the mound for the Phillies on Monday, August 10, at Busch Stadium, facing off against Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins .
The matchup carries significant weight for Philadelphia (63-56), who hold a wild-card spot but have struggled since the All-Star break with a 9-13 record . The team’s postseason odds remain strong at 88.2%, according to the SportsLine Projection Model, but the starting pitching behind their top arms has been a point of concern . President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski noted the team’s confidence in their top three starters, stating that adding another arm at the trade deadline was not a necessity because “they would have had to be significantly better, in our opinion, than Andrew”.
The 23-year-old Painter (1-8, 6.48 ERA) has faced a challenging sophomore campaign. Once ranked among the top prospects in baseball, Painter has not recorded a win since Opening Day on March 31 and is currently on a 16-outing winless streak . He was sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in mid-June to work through his struggles and has shown signs of improvement in two starts since being recalled, allowing just one run in his most recent outing against Washington . However, the first inning has been a persistent problem for the young right-hander, as he owns an 8.36 ERA and has allowed four home runs in the opening frame this season .
The Cardinals (59-59) will counter with the 26-year-old Dobbins (2-2, 3.60 ERA), who has been a reliable piece of a largely youthful St. Louis rotation . The Cardinals are in a transition year, featuring a rotation of unproven but promising arms. Dobbins is part of a group that includes Kyle Leahy, Andre Pallante, and Michael McGreevy, with the team relying on its young starters to eat innings during a retooling phase.
The series carries playoff implications for both clubs. The Phillies are looking to solidify their hold on a wild-card berth, while the Cardinals are hanging around the .500 mark with a 15.4% chance of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2022 . Philadelphia’s offense showed signs of life in a recent series against Toronto, with Kyle Schwarber homering twice to end a 17-game drought . The team will also look to recent trade acquisition Luis Arraez to provide clutch hitting as they enter the final stretch of the season.
First pitch for Monday’s series opener is scheduled for 8:15 PM ET at Busch Stadium.
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