Philadelphia Phillies DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has been confirmed as the Opening Day starter, according to manager Rob Thompson. The right-hander has earned this opportunity given how excellent he has pitched over the last few seasons. This will be a change of pace for the Phillies as Aaron Nola has started the last seven Opening Day games for the Phillies. The organization will shake it up and have Wheeler take the ball against the Atlanta Braves on March 28. The assumption is that Nola will follow him as the second starter.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez was knocked around in a Grapefruit League start against the Houston Astros on Friday. The 27-year-old lasted just 2 1/3 innings while giving up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out a pair. It was just his second start of the spring after he tossed two scoreless frames with one hit allowed, zero walks and one strikeout on Feb. 27 versus the Twins. Sanchez pitched well in 19 outings (18 starts) in the 2023 season, working to a 3.44 ERA and a healthy 20.2% K-BB% across 99 1/3 innings of work. Additionally, his minuscule 4% walk rate ranked sixth among 141 pitchers who threw at least 90 frames a season ago. Sanchez will open the season as the Phillies' fifth starter and projects for a 4.04 ERA alongside a 14.3% K-BB% across 32 outings (25 starts) by ATC in 2024.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he expects outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (groin) to play in the Grapefruit League contest on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox after he was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday versus the Detroit Tigers as a precaution due to right-groin tightness. "He said he felt fine to play, but I pulled him out just as a precaution," Thomson said. The 31-year-old left-handed slugger seems to be just fine and will be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season at the end of March. Schwarber has carried one of the lowest batting averages in recent seasons among regular starters, but his elite power production and RBI opportunities in a strong Phillies lineup make him worth of being a No. 2 fantasy outfielder.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (groin) is being scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Detroit Tigers due to right-groin tightness. He's being considered day-to-day. It's something to keep an eye on, but the 31-year-old left-handed slugger is probably fine and should be ready for Opening Day on March 28. When healthy, Schwarber will mostly be Philly's designated hitter while batting leadoff, despite the fact that the two-time All-Star hit under .200 last year. It's a tradeoff the Phillies are willing to take. Schwarber has led the league in each of the last two years in strikeouts but has also hit 93 home runs and driven in 198 RBI. As long as you make up for the batting average drain elsewhere, Schwarber is as good of a power source as a No. 2 fantasy outfielder as there is.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitchingTaijuan Walker (knee) will make his spring debut on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Walker missed time this spring for personal reasons and because of right knee soreness. He recently threw a bullpen session and felt good afterward. "He feels so good that we're just going to put him in the game," said Phillies manager Rob Thomson. The 31-year-old has enough time to ramp up his activity and should be ready by Opening Day. He will look to improve upon his 2023 season, in which he posted a 4.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 31 starts with an 18.8% K% over 172 2/3 innings. His K% dropped from 20.3% in 2022 to 18.3% in 2023. Walker has an NFBC ADP of 504 and is mainly an option in deep-league formats heading into 2024 fantasy drafts.