Phillies Spring Training Update: Starters named, Jesús Luzardo filth, Andrew Painter

We're well into spring training now, with the Philadelphia Phillies gearing up to begin their Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday. It's always a tease when camp opens and we start getting images from the backfields of the Phillies' Carpenter Complex, and all we can hope for is that everyone in camp stays healthy while they're preparing for the real baseball this season.

Besides good health for the squad, the other thing we want to see is our burning questions answered. It looks like top prospect Andrew Painter is doing that this week, but we'll get to that in a bit. First, with exhibition games beginning this week, we learned who the Phillies will be running out there to start their first few games.

Phillies Spring Training Update: Rob Thomson names first spring starters

Three of the Phillies' first four spring training games are on the road and manager Rob Thomson has named his starters to kick off the schedule. Phillies Nation's Destiny Lugardo gave us the lowdown, as the Phillies will send offseason signee Bryse Wilson to the bump for the opener on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin.

They'll proceed with a bullpen game for the home opener on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at BayCare Ballpark before lining up Alan Rangel on the road on Monday against the Washington Nationals. We don't yet know who will start Tuesday on the road against the Miami Marlins or Wednesday at home against the Detroit Tigers.

Taijuan Walker will take the ball for Thursday's home game against the Nationals. Walker is expected to start the season in the rotation while Zack Wheeler remains out working his way back to 100 percent. Once Wheeler returns, it remains to be seen who will get bumped or if the Phillies will move to a six-man rotation to save some wear and tear on their starters.

Phillies Spring Training Update: Jesús Luzardo throwing filth early in camp

Lefty starter Jesús Luzardo threw his first live bullpen session on Wednesday and was filthy, leaving his teammates and coaches impressed. Luzardo was absolutely dialed in in mid-season form, striking out three of the five batters he faced.

One of those punch outs was outfielder Brandon Marsh who got a firsthand look at the southpaw and came away in awe.

"You don't hit him when he's on," Marsh said. "He hits his spot and puts it where he wants to. He's as good as they come."

Luzardo, 28, is coming off a stellar 2025 season, his first in Philadelphia, and is heading into a contract year. He went 15-7 last year, with a 3.92 ERA, 216 strikeouts, and 5.3 fWAR in 32 starts. The Phillies will need him to help anchor the top of the rotation with fellow lefty Cristopher Sánchez.

It sounds like he's well on his way.

"I felt great," Luzardo said. "I think just commanding the zone, commanding all my pitches, health. When you check those off early in camp that's obviously huge."

Phillies Spring Training Update: Andrew Painter looks more like himself and gets glowing praise

Speaking of starting pitchers who are looking good early in camp, top prospect Andrew Painter got some favorable reviews this week as well. Now healthy, the 22-year-old righty is looking to make the Opening Day roster in his second season back after Tommy John surgery in 2023.

The Phillies are counting on him to grab a rotation spot but we've all been waiting to see if he has corrected his arm slot issue that derailed his command and his 2025 season. From the sounds of things, Painter's command is back to where it needs to be, at least according to Thomson.

"Command, it's back, so far, it's just bullpens," Thomson said. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, he hasn't faced hitters yet and obviously hasn't pitched in a game, but the command, look's like he's got it."

One player who should know better than anybody how Painter looks is the man who has been and who will be catching him this season. J.T. Realmuto raved about Painter after catching his bullpen session earlier this week.

"He looks great. I caught his bullpen yesterday," Realmuto told NBC Sports' John Clark. "Shoot, I want to say it was 98, 99 [mph]. It’s just easy. It doesn’t look like he’s throwing max effort ... It’s still coming out that firm … He is kind of like Wheeler. His stuff is so elite, and he’s still able to throw the ball on the edges."

That's high praise indeed. If Painter turns out to be the pitcher the Phillies have been waiting for since it looked like he was going to make the team out of spring training in 2023, we're in for a treat.