Phillies Mailbag: Wheeler’s Return, Painter, Bohm’s Start

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon to hear your questions answered on the air.

When Zack Wheeler returns, who goes? Is it Taijuan Walker?
~Jay

At this point, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler could be just a couple weeks away from joining the Phillies rotation.   Wheeler has made two starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and is scheduled to start once again Wednesday.  After that, it might be just one more start.

Then, Wheeler should join the Phillies starting rotation.

In terms of who "goes," I think it is pretty clear that Taijuan Walker will return to the bullpen to make room for Wheeler in the rotation.   Last year Walker did pretty well in the swing role between the starting rotation and bullpen.

Walker's first start was filled with balls that seemed to find holes and defensive miscues.  His second start the longball hit him three times in the thin Denver air.

Despite his 0-2 start, Walker can still contribute to this team, especially with his versatility.

The subtraction will come from the bullpen to make room for Walker.

I hate to make predictions because a lot can happen between now and then.  But someone could step up and show they are worthy to stay.

Tim Mayza, for example, was largely an Opening Day roster surprise.  But after he's been able to keep the opposition off of the scoreboard, allowing just one hit in seven innings.

Kyle Backhus was today's casualty to make room for Orion Kerkering.

If I had to guess right now I think that Zach Pop is the best candidate to go.  But a mild injury here or there could change things quickly.

Any concern over Andrew Painter's performance last night?
~Radley

Rookie pitcher Andrew Painter had a stront debut, going 5 1/3 innings allowing just one earned run.  But last night was a little different.  Painter pitched four innings, allowing four earned runs.

The good news is that the bats woke up and the bullpen was strong, allowing the Phillies to come back from the deficit and take the game.

After his exit, Painter finished his post-start routine and took a seat on the bench alongside his teammates.  That's rare for a starter after they have left the game.

After he cheered his teammates to victory, he acknowledged that he fell behind a lot and then just felt like it was too much to get out of.

I appreciate his willingness to take an honest look at his performance and look to improve.

I think there will be nights like his debut, and also nights like last night.  It's tough to pitch on the road in the cold during one of the late contests.  The Phillies have typically struggled on the road.

But four runs is not something a team cannot overcome and the Phillies showed that they could do so.  I think that will inspire confidence for Painter in the future and the club as a whole.

What do you think about Alec Bohm's start thus far?
~Andrew

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm came to camp in 2026 with a lot of noise surrounding him.   First, he was the subject of regular trade rumors should the Phillies have signed free agent infielder Bo Bichette.   Then, of course, come the normal pressures of preparing for a contract year.

Add into this the reported legal troubles he is dealing with that involve his parents, there was much on his mind.

Bohm might have been pressing a bit on the opening homestand.  Bohm hit just .095 at Citizens Bank Park for the homestand.

But since the Phillies took off from PHL he has been much different.  Through those four games Bohm is hitting .333.

It could have been a tough start mentally, but Bohm is the type of player who can get out of a slump easily, thanks to his high-contact bat.

Bohm's contact leads sometimes to hard hit outs.  But other times, it leads to a two-run double just to the left of the first base bag.

There is a reason why they call it a batting average.   It includes some highs.  It includes some lows.  But in the end, it all averages it out.

I think it will be fine, but I can see how those distractions may have made him initially struggle to get going.  I am not worried.

By the way, whether that means that he is in the right spot in the lineup is another matter.  It's worth seeing how well Adolis Garcia is performing over a longer period of time.  I might switch the two in the batting order.