Team Fantasy Preview - Philadelphia Phillies
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Throughout the preseason, we will be previewing all 30 teams and what their rosters bring to the fantasy baseball table. This edition covers the Philadelphia Phillies.
Projected Lineup
| ORDER | POSITION | NAME | BATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L |
| 6 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 7 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| Bench | OF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| Bench | 2B/SS | Andres Blanco | S |
Projected Rotation
| ORDER | NAME | THROWS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Hellickson | R |
| 2 | Aaron Nola | R |
| 3 | Clay Buchholz | R |
| 4 | Jerad Eickhoff | R |
| 5 | Vince Velasquez | R |
Bullpen Hierarchy
| ROLE | NAME | THROWS |
|---|---|---|
| Closer | Jeanmar Gomez | R |
| Set-Up | Hector Neris | R |
| RP | Joaquin Benoit | R |
Top Prospect to Watch in 2017
OF Roman Quinn played 15 games with the big club last year, notching five steals and a .373 OBP. While he isn't Philadelphia's top prospect, Quinn is the closest to making an impact this year. He possesses tremendous speed and has the ability to hit from both sides of the plate. Fantasy-wise, he'll be a source of steals in streaming or daily fantasy settings only.
Who Will Drive You Crazy?
It's tough for a member of the Phillies to drive you crazy, considering you shouldn't expect too much from anyone on the roster. But Velasquez's volatility will push some fantasy owners to the brink. Last year, he notched a 10.4 K/9 but walked three batters and surrendered 1.4 home runs per nine.
The One to Own
Herrera is the safest fantasy option in Philly's otherwise dismal lineup. At an ADP of 123, he won't cost you a coveted pick and can be relied upon to hit nearly .300 and steal about 20 bases. He has the potential for strong run and RBI totals, but his supporting cast won't let him reach the coveted 100/100 threshold.
Top Sleeper
Neris should make the closer position a real battle in Philadelphia. Though Gomez was anointed the closer by manager Pete Mackanin to start spring training, Gomez faltered in the role late last year and isn't a lock by any means. With an 11.4 K/9 rate last season, Neris has the stuff to compete.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)