Philadelphia Phillies DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays hit a two-run home run in Thursday's 11-7 loss to the Mariners. This was his second home run in just his third game of the season after being activated from the injured list on Tuesday. This is a great start in his new home after he disappointed in 2024 in a season split between the Orioles and Phillies. He was a solid player in 2023, slashing .275/.325/.444 with 16 home runs in a home park that was very tough against right-handed hitters. He could be in for a nice rebound year in Great American Ballpark and is worth an add in five-outfielder leagues if you need help at the position.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez had his swing-and-miss stuff going during Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The southpaw gave up a run in the first inning, but he settled down nicely after that. Sanchez finished the day tossing seven innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out 12 batters in the win. Sanchez has an impressive 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 31/6 K/BB ratio across four starts this season. The 12 strikeouts is a career-high for Sanchez who isn't really known as a strikeout pitcher. His next start will come against the New York Mets next week. Sanchez should be rostered and started in basically all fantasy formats right now.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after Thursday's 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants in the series finale that outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) is day-to-day and is not considered a candidate to land on the injured list. Marsh was held out of the starting lineup on Thursday with a minor knee injury. The 27-year-old's knee is probably the least of his worries right now after a 4-for-42 start to the season with a home run, five RBI and 16 strikeouts in his first 17 games. He's currently hitless in his last 31 at-bats and probably could have used the day off, regardless of whether he was dealing with an injury. Marsh should eventually break out of his early-season funk, but if he continues to struggle, Johan Rojas will see more playing time in center field in Philly. Rojas came into Thursday's game hitting .278 (5-for-18) with no homers and a stolen base.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (hip) was lifted from Thursday's series-finale win over the San Francisco Giants due to left hip-flexor tightness, according to the team. Castellanos was lifted in the seventh inning of the eventual 6-4 victory, with Max Kepler moving to right field and Edmundo Sosa entering the contest in left field. Before departing, the 33-year-old veteran 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a strikeout. The good news is that manager Rob Thomson said after the game that Castellanos should be good to play for Friday's series opener at Citizens Bank Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins. It's good news for the Phillies outfield with Brandon Marsh also dealing with a knee injury. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if Castellanos is back in there on Friday. He's off to a hot start, as he entered Thursday's game hitting .303 with three homers and 11 RBI.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) is out of Thursday's series finale against the visiting San Francisco Giants after tweaking his right knee while trying to field a weird hop in center field during Wednesday night's loss. Marsh will be examined by team doctors on Thursday. It remains to be seen if he'll be available for a series against the division-rival Miami Marlins in Philadelphia that starts on Friday. The 27-year-old has had a rough start to the 2025 campaign, as he's currently in an 0-for-31 slump at the plate and is now dealing with a knee injury. It's possible an injured-list stint is coming for Marsh, which would be good news for Johan Rojas, who is starting in center field and batting ninth on Thursday against the Gigantes. Marsh has just four hits (one homer), five RBI and 16 strikeouts in his first 51 plate appearances this year.