Phillies sign former Guardians 5.47 ERA pitcher to contract amid Andrew Painter news

The Philadelphia Phillies might have the best starting rotation tandem in MLB with Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler, but in their No. 5 spot, the Phillies have a bit of a problem.

First, it was Taijuan Walker's struggles, and then it was Andrew Painter not finding his own in the Major Leagues. They optioned Painter to Triple-A Lehigh Valley with the hope of the top prospect figuring things out in the minors before coming back to MLB.

But, in the meantime, the Phillies have, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, signed a former Cleveland Guardians pitcher who has a 5.47 career ERA, Kolby Allard, to a contract to give the organization some much-needed rotation depth.

Phillies sign Kolby Allard to provide starting rotation depth

"Phillies signed old friend Kolby Allard to a minor-league deal," Gelb reports. "He's going to Triple-A as rotation depth."

Allard is joining the Phillies after being a part of the team briefly in 2024, when he posted a 5.00 ERA in seven outings and four starts with a 2-0 record for Philadelphia.

The 28-year-old left-hander was very impressive in 2025 for the Guardians, posting a 2.63 ERA in 33 games and 65 innings. But this season with Cleveland, he had a 10.38 ERA in four outings and 8.2 innings.

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In the minors this season after being demoted, he posted a 4.11 ERA in eight games and five starts across 30.2 innings of work with 28 strikeouts and nine walks.

Allard was released by the Guardians on June 15, and just a few days later, he was acquired by the Phillies to join their Triple-A team for now.

But, when Painter's turn in the rotation comes around next week for the Phillies, they might decide to call up Allard to make that start, or act as a long reliever out of the Phillies' bullpen.

Regardless of whether Allard will be called up to the big leagues next week or not, he's joining the Phillies organization as some much-needed starting pitching depth following Painter's demotion to Triple-A.

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