The Boston Red Sox have set their rotation for their upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies. A familiar face is expected to pitch the series finale: left-hander Ranger Suarez. That game is set for Thursday, May 14, with a first-pitch of 6:45 pm EDT at Fenway Park.
Suarez will start against his old club in the first series between the two teams since signing a five-year, $130 million contract with the Red Sox. The left-hander has pitched well in his first seven starts with Boston, going 2-2 with a 2.77 ERA. The 30-year-old has a 21.6% strikeout rate and a 6.8% walk rate, right in line with his career averages.
The Phillies turned to their top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter, to fill that rotation spot. Painter is also scheduled to pitch against the Red Sox, which adds a bit of intrigue to that series as a whole.
Ranger Suarez’s Career with the Phillies
Suarez spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Phillies. He became a mainstay in their rotation between 2022 and 2025. Over that stretch, the left-hander made 104 starts and pitched to a 3.59 ERA in 588.1 innings. His 12.2 fWAR ranked fourth on the club, behind Zack Wheeler (19.5), Aaron Nola (14.2), and Cristopher Sanchez (12.8).
Suarez was named a National League All-Star in 2024. That year, he went 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA in 27 starts.
In addition to his reliability in the regular season, he was a key contributor in the postseason. Suarez went 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 11 postseason appearances (eight starts). In those games, the Phillies went 8-3.
Interestingly enough, two of the three losses were scoreless starts (2023 NLCS Game 3, 2024 NLDS Game 3). His lone loss in the postseason came at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who defeated Suarez and the Phillies in Game 7 of the NLCS.
Due to his solid durability and postseason track record, he became one of the most attractive starting pitchers on the market. The Phillies received a fourth-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft when he signed with Boston.
How the Phillies Attempted to Replace Suarez
In the wake of Suarez leaving for Boston, the Phillies stayed the course with the rest of their rotation options. The club did not make many external additions, but extended Jesus Luzardo and Sanchez. Sanchez has continued to pitch as well as in 2025, when he finished second in the National League Cy Young Award.
But on the other side, Luzardo has struggled in his first year after inking a six-year extension. The left-hander is battling a 58.9% strand rate and a .386 BABIP, which is why his 5.98 ERA has outpaced his 3.21 xERA, which takes into account batted ball data. That offers little recourse for Phillies fans, but there is hope that Luzardo will turn his season around.
Additionally, with Wheeler in the final stages of his rehab from thoracic outlet surgery, Philadelphia turned to its top pitching prospect to fill that hole. Once their ace returned, the club chose Painter over Taijuan Walker as their fifth starter. Walker was in the final year of an ill-fated four-year, $72 million deal.
It’s been an up-and-down year for Painter. After looking solid in two of his first three appearances, he’s lost his last four starts. He’s currently 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA and a 4.87 FIP. Opposing hitters are slashing .321/.375/.504 against him.
Painter’s struggles have put the Phillies in a tough spot. Despite a 19-22 record, they are on the upswing under interim manager Don Mattingly. Philadelphia is 10-3 under Mattingly, but two of those losses are Painter starts.
The upcoming series between the Phillies and Red Sox will say a lot about the two teams’ approaches in the offseason. Both are trying to claw back after a miserable start to the year, and a series win could vault either team back into postseason contention.
Phillies To Face Former Postseason Hero in Red Sox Series