{"id":671545,"date":"2026-03-21T13:16:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T13:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/671545\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T13:16:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T13:16:18","slug":"andrew-painter-makes-philadelphia-phillies-roster-cristopher-sanchez-to-start-opening-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/671545\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Painter makes Philadelphia Phillies roster; Cristopher S\u00e1nchez to start opening day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cristopher S\u00e1nchez will throw out the first pitch of the regular season for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday as the team’s Opening Day 2026 starter.<\/p>\n

Manager Rob Thomson announced the starting rotation Friday in Clearwater, where the Phils have three spring training games remaining before they face the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on March 26.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia’s starting pitchers are expected to be S\u00e1nchez, Aaron Nola, Jes\u00fas Luzardo, Taijuan Walker and rookie right-hander Andrew Painter, Thomson said.<\/p>\n

Andrew Painter among Phillies top prospects<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-7 Painter, a first-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft, is among the Phillies’ top prospects<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Phillies<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Phillies’ Andrew Painter works out during spring training baseball Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Clearwater, Fla.<\/p>\n

Matt Slocum \/ AP<\/p>\n

Painter, who turns 24 on April 10, was slowed by Tommy John surgery<\/a> in July 2023. His fastball averaged 95.6 mph in the minor leagues last year and reached 100.2 mph, according to Statcast.<\/p>\n

Painter threw four shutout innings against the Braves<\/a> in his most recent Spring Training outing, striking out three and allowing one walk.<\/p>\n

Excitement builds for Opening Day 2026 as S\u00e1nchez announced as starter<\/p>\n

“The man on the mound for Opening Day,” the Phillies announced on Instagram<\/a> with a photo of S\u00e1nchez.<\/p>\n

“He’s earned it,” Thomson said. “He was pretty fired up about it.” \u00a0<\/p>\n

An All-Star who went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA, S\u00e1nchez finished second in last season’s NL Cy Young Award voting<\/a>. Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes won<\/a> the award.<\/p>\n

Sanchez had a great World Baseball Classic<\/a>\u00a0representing the Dominican Republic as well. He made history in the tournament as the first pitcher to record four strikeouts in one inning \u2014 after a wild swinging strike three resulted in a runner on base and no outs.<\/p>\n

Zack Wheeler is expected to open the season on the injured list as\u00a0he continues his recovery from surgery<\/a> after he was diagnosed with\u00a0venous thoracic outlet syndrome<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n

In:<\/p>\n