The Philadelphia Phillies may have one of the more stable starting rotations in Major League Baseball, but that doesn’t mean their pitching plans are completely settled as the new season approaches later this month.
Philadelphia has somewhat backed itself into a difficult situation and may need once-hyped pitching prospect Andrew Painter to begin the season as part of the rotation. This stems in part from the team’s decision not to bring back Ranger Suárez or pursue a deal with Walker Buehler. With Zack Wheeler expected to start the year on the injured list, the most realistic five-man rotation would feature Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, Taijuan Walker, and Painter.
Because the Phillies will have four off days during the first three weeks of the season, they’ll have flexibility to gradually build up the workloads of their starters as the 2026 campaign begins. There’s no need to rush Wheeler back following surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, though some reports suggest he could be ready to return by late April.
At that point, the ideal scenario would be that the five current starters are performing well enough that removing any of them wouldn’t be necessary. If everyone remains healthy and reasonably effective, Wheeler’s return could simply lead to the Phillies adopting a six-man rotation.
How a temporary six-man rotation early in 2026 could help the Phillies in the long run
Using a six-man rotation would be somewhat of a luxury—something not every team can afford, particularly clubs that must grind just to secure a postseason berth. But if the Philadelphia Phillies perform as expected and comfortably reach the playoffs in Major League Baseball, the focus may simply shift to playoff positioning and maintaining the health of their pitching staff.
As Zack Wheeler returns and works his way back into form, the Phillies could temporarily deploy six starters for roughly six to eight weeks, potentially lasting until around the All-Star break. Scheduled off days would also allow the team to occasionally skip a turn in the rotation—likely for Andrew Painter to manage his innings—or shift Taijuan Walker to the bullpen for a brief outing instead of one of his scheduled starts. Of course, this approach depends on everyone performing close to expectations and staying healthy.
However, the plan carries some risks. Philadelphia doesn’t have many clear short-term replacements in the minor leagues who could step in for a few weeks, which limits flexibility. If a starter lands on the injured list, the team may have little choice but to revert to a traditional five-man rotation. There’s also the possibility that altering routines could disrupt pitchers’ schedules, meaning veterans like Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sánchez would need to fully embrace the strategy. While fewer starts might reduce individual counting stats—and frustrate some fantasy baseball managers—it could ultimately be beneficial if it trims 10 to 15 innings off each pitcher’s workload over the season.
The six-man rotation would likely be only a short-term solution. After Wheeler has made around eight to ten starts, the Phillies could scale back to five starters, most likely by removing Walker from the rotation. If Painter proves effective by that stage, the Phillies could boast one of the top rotations in baseball from top to bottom, featuring Wheeler, Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Nola, and Painter—a group capable of carrying the team deep into the postseason.
While the rotation is already strong, the Phillies may still need to add depth later in the season since there are limited options behind the current group. For now, though, a temporary six-man setup could help reduce risk. With so much talent among their starters, slightly reducing their workloads shouldn’t hurt the club’s playoff outlook.
In the bigger picture, employing a six-man rotation for a couple of months in May and June could prove valuable when October arrives, helping ensure the Phillies’ top arms are fresh for a potential postseason run. ⚾
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