Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Bailey Falter will make his third start of the season Thursday night when he takes on the Reds in Cincinnati. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the season, allowing just three earned runs in 10 1/3 innings of work while he's yet to walk a batter. He has just five strikeouts in that time along with a 97.6% strand rate that has led him to a 4.95 FIP. Nonetheless, Falter was solid for the Phillies last season as he turned in a 3.86 ERA across 20 appearances (16 starts) while maintaining elite control via a 4.9% BB%. Falter didn't put up big strikeout numbers throughout his minor-league career but sports pinpoint control that's helped him avoid hard contact early in his big-league career.

The Philadelphia Phillies offered no new information on Wednesday on the severity of top pitching prospect Andrew Painter's tender right elbow, but multiple sources said that nobody has been told that he needs surgery. Another source said that "time is what is needed" for Painter to recover. With Painter ailing, left-hander Bailey Falter has a clear path to being the No. 5 starter for the Phillies to open the 2023 season. The Phillies want to be certain with their diagnosis on the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball. The 19-year-old came to camp with a chance to be the first teenager to pitch for the team since 1980. But that's unlikely to happen now, as Painter turns 20 on April 10. Painter has a shot to be really good, but fantasy managers in mixed leagues may need to pump the brakes on him this year. Nick Nelson is another candidate to make the rotation if Painter isn't ready by Opening Day.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Bailey Falter currently seems to have the best shot at the team's fifth rotation spot with Andrew Painter (elbow) dealing with a tender throwing elbow, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The 25-year-old had a solid 2022 season serving mostly as a starter, going 6-4 in 20 appearances (16 starts) with a 3.86 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 21.2% strikeout rate. While he doesn't offer a ton of upside in any facet, he could be a worthwhile streamer in favorable matchups behind a strong lineup if he does earn the rotation spot.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Bailey Falter got off to a dreadful start in NLCS Game 4 Saturday night, and he was removed from the game after recording just two outs. He gave up four runs on three hits and a walk with no strikeouts, but his team was able to produce enough offense to win the game 10-6 regardless. With Philadelphia one win from the World Series, it's likely that falter will factor into other postseason moments this year, but the team may reconsider using him as a starter.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Bailey Falter will get the starting nod in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday against the San Diego Padres. The Phillies will be hoping that Falter can get through the Padres order once, according to manager Rob Thomson. This is going to be a bullpen game from the Phillies and probably the Padres as well. Noah Syndergaard pitched in Game 4 of the NL Division Series, but he might end up being the bulk pitcher in this one after Falter is done. The 25-year-old Falter will be making his first career playoff appearance after posting a 3.86 ERA (4.65 FIP), a 1.21 WHIP and a 74:17 K:BB in 84 innings over 20 outings (16 starts) for the Phillies in the regular season. He did not face the Padres at all this year.

The Philadelphia Phillies recalled left-hander Bailey Falter from the minors as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the division-rival New York Mets, and he will start Game 2. Falter will be making his 12th appearance (eighth start) for Philadelphia in the nightcap. In his 11 outings so far in 2022, he's allowed 21 earned runs on 43 hits (10 home runs surrendered) while walking 11 and striking out 37 in 39 innings pitched. The 25-year-old southpaw should be ignored as a fantasy streamer on Saturday, even in deeper leagues, because of his inability to keep the ball out of the air.