Andrew Painter Likely Out of Running for Phillies' 5th Starter's Job. Who Will Step Up?

With Painter sidelined, a big day in Phillies' fifth starter competition originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

While the Phillies have yet to provide an official update on the status of Andrew Painter's right elbow, one thing that is becoming clear is that he probably will no longer have a chance to win the fifth starter's job out of camp.

Painter made his first Grapefruit League start last Wednesday against the Twins. He went two innings, flashed a 98-99 mph fastball, a new cutter and a slider. Members of both teams came away thoroughly impressed by the Phils' 19-year-old top prospect, but just two days later manager Rob Thomson revealed Painter was dealing with "tenderness" in his right elbow.

Teams exercise extreme caution when their pitchers have an elbow injury, particularly this time of year and particularly when they're this young and crucial to their future. Whether this turns out to be a short-term or long-term injury, the Phillies are not going to rush Painter back this month in Clearwater. And given the fact that he's already missed about a week, his program of throwing and building stamina has already been set back or reset, in a way. The Phillies have just over three weeks left in camp. Even if Painter is cleared by the end of this week, he'd have to ramp back up slowly. 

Bailey Falter, who makes his second start of the spring Tuesday afternoon against the Rays, has to be viewed now as the heavy favorite to win the fifth starter's job. Other options include lefties Michael Plassmeyer and Cristopher Sanchez. Thomson has said Nick Nelson, the Phillies' right-handed long reliever last season, is in the picture as well, but the only big-league games he's started have been as an opener and he hasn't been stretched out yet this spring, appearing once for an inning in the Grapefruit League opener.

Sanchez, for that matter, has yet to appear in a spring training game after experiencing back issues earlier in camp. He is slated to pitch Tuesday after Falter. The 26-year-old made starts of five and six innings for the Phils last summer.

Falter went 1⅓ innings last Thursday in his first action of the spring, allowing a run to the Red Sox on three hits and a walk. Rafael Devers and Justin Turner had hard-hit singles in the first inning and Christian Arroyo homered off of Falter in the second.

Falter, who turns 26 in a month, made 16 starts for the Phillies last season and another in the playoffs. From July 29 through September 13, Falter posted a 2.52 ERA and the Phillies went 6-0 in his starts. He had an even 3.00 ERA over his final 10.

Another option for the Phillies if they don't like what they see this month from their own internal candidates is to explore what's left in free agency. There isn't much, but veterans Mike Minor, Michael Pineda and Dylan Bundy are unsigned. All are coming off of poor seasons. The trade market is another avenue if/when another veteran starter or two is deemed expendable later in the month.