Phils' bullpen in better shape to back up Cristopher Sanchez vs. Cards

A winning effort by three pitchers helped rest a tired bullpen, but the visiting Philadelphia Phillies still could use a lengthy outing from left-hander Cristopher Sanchez when they face the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

Rookie right-hander Andrew Painter, middle man Alan Rangel and closer-for-a-day Jonathan Bowlan combined to throw every pitch for the Phillies in a 6-5 victory during the series opener on Monday.

Because of a lack of available relief pitchers due to recent heavy usage, a situation exacerbated by three extra-inning games in the previous five days, Philadelphia interim manager Don Mattingly called it "one of the easiest games I've ever managed, because you know you're not doing anything."

Painter didn't allow a hit until the sixth, and he wound up pitching 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Rangel gave the Phillies 2 2/3 innings as a bridge to the ninth, though he almost blew the lead in the eighth.

With regular closer Jhoan Duran off limits, Bowlan came through with a 1-2-3 ninth for his first career save in 82 appearances.

"We had one bullet out there, and that was it -- Bowlan," Mattingly said. "You can use (other) guys, but you hurt guys (that way)."

Mattingly said position player Garrett Stubbs, after catching for nine innings, would have pitched in extra innings if necessary.

"Not a good plan, but a plan," Mattingly said.

The Phillies played 32 innings over the weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays, losing two of the three games. One day of partial rest did not reset the bullpen.

"Not really," Mattingly said. "We're close. We're closer. We'll see (Tuesday) where we're at. We'll have a few more guys available (Tuesday)."

The Phillies will send their ace to the mound as they look to win for the eighth time in 11 games.

Sanchez (15-4, 2.65 ERA) has been less effective since mid-June than earlier in the season, posting a 4.47 ERA over his past 10 outings. However, he has won each of his past five starts while logging a 2.88 ERA in that span.

Most recently, the two-time All-Star threw five innings of two-run ball for a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

Sanchez has a 2-0 record and a 2.95 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Cardinals. Ivan Herrera, who is swinging a hot bat right now, hit a home run against Sanchez in May 2025.

Herrera is 9-for-15 with four doubles over the past three games.

The Cardinals had won five of seven before the Phillies came to town and damaged their slim postseason hopes. St. Louis previously sold at the trade deadline, with upper management apparently seeing the team as being still in development.

Manager Oliver Marmol wasn't pleased with the Cardinals' performance in the series opener. The team made two errors, issued seven walks and couldn't fully capitalize on Philly's hamstrung pitching staff. The Cardinals fell 4 1/2 games back of the final two National League wild-card positions, shared by the Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"I give a damn where we're at," Marmol said. "I want that game, and everybody in that clubhouse wants that game. So, yes, (the rebuilding process) shows up from time to time, especially when you're competing against a group that's built to win now. But all that goes out the window when the first pitch is thrown."

Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante (12-6, 3.63) is scheduled to start Tuesday. He has been particularly strong over his past three starts, allowing a combined three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings (1.45 ERA) against the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees.

On Wednesday in New York, Pallante got a 3-1 win after yielding just one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

He has a 1-1 mark and a 4.32 ERA in seven career appearances (two starts) against the Phillies, most recently allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings en route to a victory in April 2025.

--Field Level Media