Andrew Painter makes Philadelphia Phillies roster; Cristopher Sánchez to start opening day

Sánchez will throw out the first pitch of the season for the Phillies on Thursday, and Painter will be the No. 5 starter.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:18pm

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Cristopher Sánchez will throw out the first pitch of the regular season for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday as the team's Opening Day 2026 starter. Manager Rob Thomson announced the starting rotation, which includes rookie right-hander Andrew Painter, a first-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft who is among the Phillies' top prospects. Zack Wheeler is expected to open the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from surgery after he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Why it matters

The Phillies are looking to build on their success from last season, when Sánchez finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting. The addition of Painter to the starting rotation adds depth and potential to the team's pitching staff.

The details

Sánchez will be the Phillies' Opening Day starter, with Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, Taijuan Walker, and Andrew Painter rounding out the rotation. Painter, who turns 24 on April 10, was slowed by Tommy John surgery in July 2023 but has impressed in Spring Training, throwing four shutout innings against the Braves and reaching 100.2 mph on his fastball.

  • Sánchez will throw out the first pitch of the regular season for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
  • Painter, a first-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft, will be the No. 5 starter for the Phillies in the 2026 season.

The players

Cristopher Sánchez

An All-Star who went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA last season, Sánchez finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He also made history in the World Baseball Classic as the first pitcher to record four strikeouts in one inning.

Andrew Painter

A 6-foot-7 rookie right-hander and one of the Phillies' top prospects, Painter was slowed by Tommy John surgery in July 2023 but has impressed in Spring Training, reaching 100.2 mph on his fastball.

Rob Thomson

The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, who announced the team's starting rotation for the 2026 season.

Zack Wheeler

The Phillies' starting pitcher who is expected to open the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from surgery after being diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Paul Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who won the NL Cy Young Award last season.

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What they’re saying

“He's earned it. He was pretty fired up about it.”

— Rob Thomson, Manager

What’s next

Zack Wheeler is expected to open the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from surgery after he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

The takeaway

The Phillies are poised to have a strong pitching staff in 2026, with the addition of top prospect Andrew Painter to a rotation led by All-Star Cristopher Sánchez. The team's success will hinge on the health and performance of its starting pitchers, particularly with Zack Wheeler's injury status.