Philadelphia Phillies DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez (back) is dealing with what the team is calling mild back stiffness and will not make his scheduled Grapefruit League start on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The good news is Suarez's injury isn't believed to be as bad as last year's injury, according to manager Rob Thomson. However, the 29-year-old southpaw's availability for the start of the regular season next week is now in question. Suarez pitched in an intrasquad game last Saturday and felt soreness in his back on Sunday. We should have a better read on his status for Opening Day next week, but fantasy managers have a right to be worried after Suarez missed more than a month with a back injury in 2024. If Suarez requires a stint on the injured list to begin the season, the most likely option to take his starting rotation spot would be veteran right-hander Joe Ross.

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (foot) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees and is starting at third base and batting cleanup, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Lochlahn March. It will be Bohm's first game action since Saturday due to a bruised foot. The 28-year-old former third overall pick in 2018 out of Wichita State University was the subject of trade rumors in the offseason, but he will remain in Philly for now, where his fantasy value is the highest, especially if he's hitting in the heart of one of the best lineups in baseball. Bohm has been swinging a hot back in camp, too, batting .344 (11-for-32) with three home runs, three doubles, five RBI and 10 runs in 11 Grapefruit League games. While Bohm may not have high-end power for a third baseman, he hits for a high average and will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (foot) could return to the Grapefruit League lineup on Wednesday against the New York Yankees, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Bohm has been out since Saturday due to a bruised foot, but his injury isn't serious and he should be ready to go for Opening Day next Thursday, March 27, in D.C. against the division-rival Washington Nationals. A candidate to be traded in the offseason, the 28-year-old has stuck with Philly and is currently hitting a cool .344 (11-for-32) with three home runs, three doubles, five RBI and 10 runs scored in 11 Grapefruit League contests. He was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and finished with a .280/.332/.448 slash line, 15 home runs, 97 RBI, five steals and 62 runs in 143 games played. Bohm will need to hit fly balls to reward fantasy managers with more homers, but he hits the ball hard and is in the middle of one of the best lineups in baseball.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) will play in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marsh bruised his left knee in the team's Grapefruit League contest on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, but it wasn't a serious injury, and he'll end up missing just one day. The 27-year-old will be ready to go for Opening Day next Thursday, March 27, versus the division-rival Washington Nationals and he's expected to be the team's primary center fielder in 2025. With moderate power and speed, the former second-rounder by the Los Angeles Angels in 2016 is merely outfield depth for those in mixed fantasy leagues. However, he does reside in one of the best lineups in baseball and he was able to set career-highs in home runs (16) and stolen bases (19) in 135 games in 2024. Sitting against many lefties and a career strikeout rate over 30% lowers his ceiling.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced on Monday that right-hander Zack Wheeler will start on Opening Day on Thursday, March 27, against the division-rival Washington Nationals on the road. The decision doesn't come as a surprise, even though the Phillies also have right-hander Aaron Nola, who would be a staff ace for most other teams. The 34-year-old Wheeler is ranked as the No. 3 fantasy starter at RotoBaller, behind only Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA (3.13 FIP), league-low 0.95 WHIP, 224 strikeouts and 52 walks in 200 innings over 32 starts in his fifth year in Philadelphia. Wheeler has now racked up 200-plus strikeouts and at least 192 innings pitched in three of the last four years. He'll be one of the best DFS plays at the position on Opening Day as well against the Nats.