Phillies

Garrett Stubbs Would’ve Pitched Extra Innings on Monday Night

By Luke Arcaini

Published: Aug 11th, 2026 · 10:35 AM EDT

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It wasn’t always pretty, but the Phillies got their first win from the 5th starter spot since May 18th on Monday night in a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The last time the Phillies won a game started by a player not named Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, or Aaron Nola was 85 days ago. Otto Kemp and Adolis Garcia were in the starting lineup. We were one week removed from the Sixers getting swept by the Knicks. LeBron was not a Sixer.

Monday night featured a gutsy approach from the Phillies, and it ended up working out for them in the end. Of course, there was bullpen drama, because it wouldn’t be a Phillies game without bullpen drama.

Don Mattingly said pregame that the Phillies were basically in a 2-3 pitcher mode for the entire night. Andrew Painter was going to start, and Alan Rangel was going to piggyback. Their ideal situation was only having to use those two guys. Andrew Painter was fantastic on Monday night, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning. He ended his night allowing two runs and turning the game over to Rangel. Rangel was good early, but did allow the Cardinals to sneak back in the 8th inning.

Jonathan Bowlan was the only other reliever available on Monday night. Bowlan would end up earning the first save of his career in a 1-2-3 9th inning. What would’ve happened if the game went to extra innings tied?

“Stubby,” Mattingly said postgame about his extra inning plan. “Not a good plan, but a plan.”

Going into Monday night’s game, the Phillies bullpen was absolutely taxed. Three extra inning games in five days certainly doesn’t help:

• Jhoan Duran: 3 games in 4 days
• Orion Kerkering: 3 game in 4 days
• Tim Mayza: 37 pitches in 3 days
• Jose Alvarado: 38 pitches in 3 days
• Brooks Raley: 2 games in 2 days
• Chase Shugart was recalled for Caleb Killian, but wasn’t available

On Monday night, the Phillies were comitted to the war rather than the battle. Bowlan, Mayza, and Duran have not allowed a run in the month of August. The Phillies don’t have another reliever with an ERA under 4.90 this month. It’s been a grind. They’ve blown a lot of leads. They knew they had to get their guys rest on Monday night, no matter what it took.

They got 5.1 dominant innings from Painter, which is the biggest positive from Monday night’s win. After not acquiring a 5th starter at the trade deadline, Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies organization are putting trust in their rookie arm to pitch every five days for the rest of the season.

Painter has a 2.91 ERA in three starts since he was recalled from Triple-A. That is a pretty damn good start to the back half of his season.

I’d assume some relievers would be down on Tuesday night as well. The Phillies could make another move to get a fresh arm up here, potentially Alex McFarlane.