PHILADELPHIA -- It’s a problem the Phillies can’t seem to fix.
Alan Rangel allowed five runs in four innings in Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the Mets at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies’ latest loss from a No. 5 starter. Rangel allowed two runs in a 31-pitch first inning and three runs in a 30-pitch second inning as Philadelphia lost its first series coming out of the All-Star break.
Rangel is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in six appearances (three starts) this season, which makes him the Phillies’ most effective fifth starter this year -- although they haven’t won a game from this spot in the rotation since May 18. The team optioned Andrew Painter (7.06 ERA) to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in June. They released Taijuan Walker (9.13 ERA) in April.
It’s a pain point as the organization tries to catch the Braves in the NL East and it tries to manage the workload of its bullpen for what it hopes will be a deep postseason run.
“Obviously, you don't want to have this a day that we never win,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said.
It’s why the Phillies are looking for outside help before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, although it isn’t their only need.
Trades and Transactions presented by CohnReznick
• 2026 Trade Deadline: Aug. 3, 6 p.m. ET
• Latest trade buzz and rumors
The Phillies are a combined 50-25 (.667) when Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola start this season. They have a combined 3.45 ERA. They are lucky to have them, but Phillies fans shudder to think what would happen if even one of them falls.
The Phillies are a combined 5-20 (.200) when Rangel, Painter, Walker or an opener starts. That group has a combined 7.33 ERA.
It has meant losses.
It has meant too many innings thrown by the bullpen.
Phillies relievers have thrown 354 1/3 innings this season. They have thrown 122 2/3 in the 25 games started by someone other than Sánchez, Wheeler, Luzardo and Nola.
It means 34.6 percent of their innings have come in just 25 games.
“You definitely don't want to put any more stress on those guys,” Mattingly said “That game today, you’re kind of managing two games at once. You're managing that game, trying to get through it, and then you're trying to keep guys available for tomorrow. Hopefully, we’re in a good situation tomorrow with [Sánchez], keeping guys available. We were kind of able to do that.”
The Phillies hope Painter is back at some point, but his return isn’t imminent. He has a 6.39 ERA in three starts with the IronPigs. He is expected to make another start this week.
The Phillies might stick with Rangel for now, but who knows? Brian Keller (2.23 ERA) and Chuck King (4.46 ERA) started the IronPigs’ first two games following the All-Star break. Drake Fellows (4.50 ERA) was scheduled to start Sunday night.
None are on the 40-man roster, other than Painter.
“That's something to talk about,” Mattingly said. “Now's not a great time to talk about that when you're 10 minutes after the game, but I'm sure it's something that everybody's looking at to try to give us the best chance to win.”
The Phillies managed six hits on Sunday. Mets right-hander Nolan McLean allowed two hits, two walks and struck out 10 in six scoreless innings. A.J. Minter allowed the Phillies’ only run in the seventh, when Alec Bohm homered.
It was too little and too late.
“Getting down five early with their guy on the mound today [Nolan McLean], who was good, it puts you in a tough spot,” Mattingly said. “We weren't really able to chip away. [Rangel] puts up a couple zeros in the third and the fourth. I think [Tim Mayza] gets one in the fifth. And really, it feels like kind of all day you’re kind of out of it.”