On Friday afternoon, the Philadelphia Phillies played to a 4-4 tie with the Detroit Tigers in their latest spring training matchup.
With just three exhibition games remaining before Opening Day, the Phillies are set to host the Texas Rangers on March 26 for the start of the 2026 regular season.
In roster news, the Phillies have finalized their pitching rotation, confirming that top prospect Andrew Painter has earned a spot on the Opening Day roster.
According to Scott Lauber of inquirer.com, Painter is slated to start the fifth game of the season, joining a rotation that includes Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, and Taijuan Walker.
Painter, the 13th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has impressed fans and analysts alike with his minor league career, compiling a 13-10 record and a 3.37 ERA across 58 games.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic praised his spring outing against the Braves, noting four scoreless innings with a strong mix of slider, sweeper, and 96 mph fastball, signaling a promising MLB debut.
The Phillies are coming off a stellar 2025 season, winning the National League East with a 96-66 record and an impressive 55-26 home mark, setting high expectations as they head into the new season with Painter ready to make his mark.
