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Dave Dombrowski Announces Six-Man Rotation Plan, First Start for Walker Buehler
By Luke Arcaini
Published:
The Phillies will move to a six-man rotation on September 12th, barring any rainouts, Dave Dombrowski said to the media ahead of Sunday night’s matchup with the Braves:
Walker Buehler was signed by the Phillies to a minor-league contract on Sunday afternoon. The Phillies are taking a chance on a cheap deal for a proven veteran. Buehler has not been able to find a ton of success in 2025, but the team is hoping that can change in Philadelphia.
As of now, the Phillies will use Buehler as a starter. He was assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday, and will make his first start for the Iron Pigs on Saturday, September 6th. Buehler will join the team after that, and make his debut for the Phillies on September 12th vs. the Royals at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies, at that point, will move to a six-man rotation. The team planned to go to a 6-man rotation at some point before Zack Wheeler went down, but scrapped that plan once they lost their ace. With the addition with Buehler, they’ll give their arms any extra day of rest up until October.
Dombrowski would not reveal their plan for Buehler past his first start, but it seems like the Phillies could consider using him out of the bullpen in October. Cristopher Sanchez, Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo, and Ranger Suarez will all start a postseason game at some point. Where does Buehler fit into that mix? The bullpen is probably the smartest thing for the Phillies, a team who was searching for a proven playoff riser to add to their roster.
The rotation will consist of these pitchers, starting on September 12th:
- Cristopher Sanchez
- Jesus Luzardo
- Ranger Suarez
- Aaron Nola
- Taijuan Walker
- Walker Buehler
Luke Arcaini writes about the Phillies for Crossing Broad, covers the Phillies for FOX Sports The Gambler, and co-hosts "Phillies Digest" on YouTube. The wave is the worst thing in all of sports. Contact: lukearcaini8@gmail.com