Phillies

Is It Too Early to Ask Andrew Painter to Save the Day in MLB Debut vs Nats?

By Chris Wright

Published: Mar 31st, 2026 · 3:30 PM EDT

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Three years after he nearly made the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, coveted prospect Andrew Painter is set to make his MLB debut tonight vs. the Nationals.

His first pitch can’t get here soon enough.

The Phillies are desperate for good news. They fell to 1-3 on Monday night, a 13-2 drubbing that produced more jeers than cheers. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper went a combined 1-for-13 with 5 strikeouts. Taijuan Walker was, well, exactly what Phillies fans feared.

Painter’s long-awaited, injury-delayed debut has Phillies fans harkening to Cole Hamels’ first start in 2006. Let’s hope it goes as well, too. Hamels, like Painter a first-round pick out of high school, tossed 5 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball against Cincinnati to pick up his first win. The rest of his career went pretty well, too.

Painter is coming off a dominant spring training that left no doubt he’s fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. He’ll (briefly) oppose Nats reliever PJ Poulin, who already has appeared in 2 games this season. Painter’s first pitch is set for 6:40 pm, ET, at the Bank.

Let’s dive into the predictions as the Phillies try to avoid their fourth 1-4 start since winning the 2008 World Series.

Phillies vs Nationals Odds

Nationals vs Phillies Predictions & Spread Picks

The Pick: Phillies To Win by 1.5+ (NO, 53¢ per contract/-113 odds at Kalshi)

Remember, Kalshi offers YES and NO options for its contracts. Essentially, this contract is the same as taking the Nationals +1.5 at a traditional sportsbook. This contract is trading for $0.53 per, which equates to -113 odds. That’s a better value than sportsbooks. A $10 investment would produce a $9 profit if the Phillies lose or win by 1 run.

Laying the run line with the home team is a risky proposition right now. Taking the Nationals +1.5 on the spread is the analytical play that holds the most value tonight — more so because of how little help Phillies hitters have provided than an indication of what to expect from Painter.

Harper hit a ball to the track last night and blasted another pitch into the seats — in foul territory. So if you’re looking for positive signs, there you go. Bottom line: He’s still 1-for-16 with 1 RBI. Turner is 3-for-18 (.167). Schwarber homered on Opening Day, but he’s just 2-for-16 (.125).

The Phillies have scored 14 runs in four games. The Nats scored 13 last night.

Expecting the Phillies’ lineup to suddenly wake up and win by multiple runs requires too much optimism.

Phillies Player Props: Best Bets & Predictions for Tonight

Brandon Marsh – Over 0.5 Total Hits (-170 at DraftKings)

While the top of the Phillies’ lineup has been quiet, Marsh has been a bright spot. He is hitting .417, having already collected five hits in his first 12 at-bats. Poulin and the Nationals’ bullpen might not be intimidated by the Phillies’ lineup right now, but Marsh’s .583 slugging percentage shows he is locked in. Backing him to record at least one hit is a solid choice.

Bryce Harper – Under 1.5 Total Bases (-124 at Caesars)

Harper hit two balls hard last night but had nothing to show for it. Fading the face of the franchise can be daunting, but the numbers justify it. Obviously, he could clear this total with one swing, but until he finds his rhythm, it is wise to bet against him exceeding 1.5 total bases.

Kyle Schwarber – Over 0.5 Total Runs Batted In (+221 at DraftKings)

The Phillies need someone to step up and drive in runs for their stagnant offense. Even when the team is struggling, Schwarber is always one swing from changing the game and plating a baserunner. Getting +221 value on DraftKings for him to notch an RBI is an enticing opportunity. Taking a chance on Schwarber to drive in a run offers great plus-money value.