Andrew Painter didn’t have his best stuff on Saturday, still posted three scoreless innings vs Toronto

That is the whole story right there. Andrew Painter walked the first batter he faced on four pitches against Toronto on Saturday at BayCare Ballpark. First walk allowed by any of the Phillies’ projected five starters this spring.

Not exactly the start he was looking for and for a pitcher whose entire game depends on command of a five-pitch mix, falling behind the leadoff hitter is exactly the kind of thing that spiraled on him all last year at Triple-A.

It did not spiral. Three innings. No runs.

Andrew Painter Pick Off Move is Elite

We love to see an Andrew Painter pick off move. pic.twitter.com/6DSTjWYn2C

— Austin Myers (@amyers__) March 7, 2026

“I didn’t have my best stuff today,” Painter said. “Four-pitch walk to start, kind of go into a hole, but you’ve got to go out there and compete and get yourself out of it. I thought I made some good pitches. I thought the spin was good. I would love to get the changeup going a little bit, but you’ve got to take what you’re given that day and work with it.”

That quote matters more than the stat line because the 2025 version of Andrew Painter at Lehigh Valley did not work through it.

When hitters got ahead in the count last year, they hit .299 and drew 47 walks. His WHIP ballooned to 2.74 in those counts.

His first-pitch strike percentage was 48.8 percent, which would have tied for the worst in the big leagues since 2021. The whole season unraveled every time he fell behind, and it happened constantly. He posted a 5.26 ERA and allowed an .826 OPS.

Saturday was a different version of Andrew Painter. Not perfect. Not his best. But composed. He found his way through it and kept Toronto off the board.

Andrew Painter was efficient, which is all that matters right now

Andrew Painter fired off an efficient 3 innings against Toronto in his start today

The efficiency is nice, but it was accompanied by loud contact and an uninspiring shape on his fastball. Without its previous elite ride, I am bearish on Painter entering 2026. pic.twitter.com/8LPsVXCwpg

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) March 7, 2026

When the walk happened on Saturday the old version might have let it become an inning. Instead he made pitches and got through it clean.

Three scoreless innings without your best stuff in a fifth starter competition is a win. Andrew Painter knows that. The Phillies know that. This race for the fifth rotation spot is not over but Painter continues to make the most compelling case.

Andrew Painter through two Spring Training starts:

Andrew Painter through two Spring Training starts:

5 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 1 K | 1 BB | 0.00 ERA

How are you feeling so far⁉️🎨#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/FfkVfOOg8q

— SleeperPhillies (@SleeperPhillies) March 8, 2026

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