The Philadelphia Phillies are attempting to recover after a rough stretch in which they dropped nearly every game over a two-week span, though their form has slightly improved since the managerial change from Rob Thomson to interim leadership.
However, pitching concerns continue to grow, especially around young arm Andrew Painter, whose recent outing once again highlighted his struggles.
His fastball has lacked the expected movement, making it easier for hitters to connect, with Statcast data showing below-average vertical and horizontal break compared to similar pitchers, as reported by Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Because of these issues, there is increasing speculation that Philadelphia could explore the trade market for rotation help, with NL East rival Sandy Alcantara emerging as a potential target.
Alcantara, a former Cy Young winner, started the 2026 season strongly with a complete game but has since seen his performance dip, though he remains one of the most talked-about potential trade candidates as the deadline approaches.
Reports from analysts like Mark Powell suggest that the rebuilding Miami Marlins could be open to moving him if they fall further out of contention.
Despite their struggles, the Phillies still view themselves as playoff contenders and believe adding a top-tier starter like Alcantara would significantly strengthen a rotation already featuring Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Jesús Luzardo.
Such a move would give Philadelphia one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball and help offset ongoing offensive inconsistency.
