The Philadelphia Phillies continued their climb up the standings with a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night, improving to 25-23. After the team’s rough start and the firing of former manager Rob Thomson, the recent turnaround has been a major boost for Philadelphia.
Despite the victory, interim manager Don Mattingly raised eyebrows when he pulled rookie starter Andrew Painter after six innings, even though the young right-hander had thrown just 69 pitches.
Don Mattingly’s Andrew Painter Approach Catches Phillies Fans’ Attention
Painter entered the season as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects and earned a spot on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster. However, his transition to the majors was rocky, leading Mattingly to take a more careful approach with his development.
Recently, Painter has shown signs of improvement, but Mattingly has continued to avoid overextending him. The Phillies believe limiting his workload can help maintain his confidence and prevent setbacks during games.
Through nine appearances, Painter owns a 1-4 record with a 5.77 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and a 1.49 WHIP, though his last two outings have shown clear progress.
“Painter completed six innings for the first time in his young career in the club’s 5-4 win over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Yet despite being at only 69 pitches and having retired 10 consecutive batters, he did not come back out for the seventh,” Paul Casella wrote for MLB.com. “After Painter struggled to a 6.89 ERA through his first seven big league outings, the Phillies are simply trying to build up the confidence of the highly touted 23-year-old rookie.”
Don Mattingly said in a recent interview, “We know what Andrew Painter is capable of. Young pitchers go through stretches like this, and the biggest thing right now is patience. He’s continuing to learn, compete, and grow every time he takes the mound. We have full confidence in him moving forward.”
Phillies Are on a Roll After Their Slow Start to the Season
Mattingly’s cautious handling of Painter paid off against Cincinnati, as Philadelphia held on for another victory. The Phillies have looked far more confident since Mattingly took over, steadily digging themselves out of the hole created by their slow start.
Philadelphia is now beginning to resemble the playoff contender many expected before the season started. The Phillies will look to continue their hot streak and secure a sixth straight win when they return to action Tuesday night.