The Philadelphia Phillies received encouraging news regarding rookie right-hander Andrew Painter after his abbreviated outing against the Washington Nationals. Interim manager Don Mattingly said Painter is expected to make his next scheduled turn through the rotation after precautionary imaging on his left hamstring came back clear.
The update, first reported by Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Lochlahn March, also included positive news on outfielder Derek Hill, who is expected to be available off the bench after leaving Wednesday's game with a right shoulder contusion.
The Phillies fell 10-4 in 11 innings to the Nationals and entered play at 61-54 as they continued battling for a National League Wild Card spot under Mattingly.
Painter exited after four innings when his left hamstring tightened after his foot caught in the mound dirt. He allowed one earned run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts over 63 pitches. The 23-year-old owns a 1-8 record with a 6.48 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 63 strikeouts across 75.0 innings in 16 appearances, including 14 starts, during his rookie season.
The injury scare briefly raised concerns given Painter's lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons. Mattingly's update eased those fears, with imaging revealing no significant structural damage to his hamstring.
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Hill also avoided a more serious injury after crashing into the center-field wall while chasing a fly ball in the 11th inning. He finished Wednesday's game 0 for 2 with a run scored and a stolen base before exiting with a right shoulder contusion.
In 84 games, he is hitting .238/.298/.443 with 9 Home Runs, 21 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. His expected availability, along with Painter remaining on schedule, gives Philadelphia two positive health developments as it continues its postseason push.
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