Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford are two big positives amid bad start to 2026 for Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies, if it weren't for the New York Mets 10-game losing streak, might be viewed as the 2026 season's most disappointing team through the first 21 games of the season.

They're 8-12 on the year, and a lot of the key players are not producing well enough this year. However, the Phillies have gotten production from a few players, including Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.

But, most importantly, as Todd Zolecki of MLB.com highlighted, is that the Phillies have seen what they needed to from Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter to begin the season so far.

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"Phillies: The young stars will be OK," Zolecki writes. "... But Painter has played the part of a future top-of-the-rotation starter, while Crawford has looked like a future leadoff hitter."

Painter has made a few starts this season, with his third outing being an odd one that saw him come into the game in relief after being scratched from his start due to migraine issues.

But he pitched well for five innings, allowing one run. Overall, he's posted a 3.77 ERA on the season across 14.1 innings in three outings. There's room for improvement, but overall, he's been a solid pitcher for the Phillies.

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Crawford, meanwhile, is hitting .273 with a .726 OPS. He's only posted one RBI, but that was a walk-off. Crawford also has just one stolen base so far this season.

The 22-year-old hasn't been perfect lately, but there's still a lot to like about his game. His speed is still a threat, his contact ability is appealing, and his defense isn't terrible either.

He's got a long way to go before being as good as this player, but Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson is a good target for Crawford. While he might not hit homers, his elite speed and contact abilities can lead to a productive hitter.

Both Painter and Crawford have impressed this season. Even though they're not as good as some of the other rookies around baseball, the Phillies have gotten a few positives from both despite the shaky start to the season overall.

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