Phillies Fantasy Baseball Draft Preview | Zack Wheeler, Bryce Harper, Aaron Nola, Trea Turner, Jose Alvarado and More
Discussing the top fantasy players from the Philadelphia Phillies as the 2024 season approaches.
The fantasy baseball season is closing in quickly. FantasySP has published a number of articles relating to 2024 fantasy baseball draft prep and will continue to do so through the start of the MLB season.
Recently, we’ve been looking at things on a team-by-team basis. Those articles can be found at the links below:
American League - Texas Rangers (hitters and pitchers), Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros (hitters and pitchers), Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays (hitters and pitchers), Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays
National League - Los Angeles Dodgers (hitters and pitchers), Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves (hitters and pitchers), Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks (hitters and pitchers), San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs
Now, we’ll take a look at the Philadelphia Phillies.
Get ready for draft season! Check out our Mock Draft Simulator, Average Draft Position list and Draft Genius!
Top Fantasy Pitchers
The top Philadelphia player on the FantasySP Average Draft Position list is pitcher Zack Wheeler, ranked 17th overall with a mark of 19.47.
Wheeler started 32 games in 2023, going 13-6 with a 3.61 earned run average and 212 strikeouts over 192 innings. That was his highest ERA in five years, but he was still one of the best fantasy SP in the league.
If you’ve been reading these team previews, you know I think pitchers are going too early in drafts. I like Wheeler in the 20s, but he should be in contention for the top fantasy SP by the end of the season, so I also understand wanting to spend an earlier pick on him.
Aaron Nola is the next Philly pitcher on the ADP list, ranking 34th with a mark of 34.43.
Nola was 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA across 32 starts last season. He had 202 strikeouts over 193 2/3 innings.
Nola has a chance for a bounceback season if he can lower his ERA. He’s the 10th SP off draft boards, but finished 25th last season. I think he should be going 2-3 rounds later than his current ADP mark, even with the thought of a bounceback season in mind.
Jose Alvarado is next up, ranking 202nd with a mark of 181.65.
He’s the team’s closer after posting a 1.74 ERA across 42 games in 2023. He went 0-2 and struck out 64 batters over 41 1/3 innings.
I don’t like using early picks on closers, so Alvarado is definitely an option for me several rounds after the top players go off draft boards. He flies under the radar a bit because he doesn’t have a lot of closing experience, but as long as he stays healthy, he could be one of the better fantasy options in the game if his ERA stays as low as it was last season.
Starter Cristopher Sanchez is next up, ranking 286th with a mark of 233.8.
Sanchez made 19 appearances (18 starts) last season, going 3-5 with a 3.44 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 99 1/3 innings.
He’s projected to be the team’s No. 5 option, so that means he could be the first one out of the rotation if he struggles or a prospect is ready to debut. While his ADP is pretty late in drafts, I’d still prefer him a couple rounds later than where he’s going - he just doesn’t have the long-term success or job security that I like in a depth fantasy arm.
Ranger Suarez is the next Philly pitcher on the ADP list, ranking 303rd with a mark of 241.6.
Suarez made 22 starts in 2023, finishing 4-6 with a 4.18 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 125 innings.
I get his ERA wasn’t great, and that durability is now an issue, but he’s only 28 years old and has a career 3.85 ERA, so there’s a good chance he not only bounces back a bit, but improves his numbers across the board if he can get a full season of starts in.
Matt Strahm is next, ranking 328th with a mark of 259.57.
Strahm is capable of starting and did so 10 times across his 56 games in 2023, but is projected to come out of the bullpen in 2024. He went 9-5 with a 3.29 ERA and struck out 108 batters over 87 2/3 innings.
It’s difficult for me to justify using a late pick on a reliever, especially one that isn’t a setup man. If he exclusively comes out of the pen, his numbers across the board will dip. He’s an option in really deep leagues, but I’d stay away from him in standard leagues.
Taijuan Walker is the last Philly pitcher on the ADP list, ranking 341st with a mark of 269.25.
Walker made 31 starts last season, going 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA. He struck out 138 batters over 172 2/3 innings.
His win-loss record was great, but probably isn’t sustainable if his ERA remains that high. If he’s able to add some more strikeouts to the mix, he could be a draft steal. I think his ADP is pretty solid though, and think he’s worth a pick late.
Mick Abel is a top-100 prospect to keep an eye on this season. Jeff Hoffman or Gregory Soto would get the save opportunities if Alvarado struggles, needs a break or is out with an injury.
Top Fantasy Hitters
Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are the team’s first two hitters off draft boards. Harper ranks 25th with a mark of 26.51, while Turner is ranked 26th with a mark of 28.96.
Harper has transitioned to first base now. He played there and as the team’s designated hitter in 2023, playing 126 games total. Harper had a .293 average, .401 on-base percentage, 134 total hits, 72 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 84 runs scored. He homered 21 times among his 51 extra-base hits.
Durability issues are definitely a concern, but when he’s on the field, Harper is one of the best fantasy hitters out there. There’s risk involved with taking him this early in a draft, but also a good amount of upside. I prefer him in the 30s instead, but regardless of where you get him, make sure you have a good backup plan in place.
Turner struggled in his first season in Philly, tallying a .266 average, .320 OBP, 170 total hits, 76 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and 102 runs scored over 155 games. He homered 26 times among his 66 extra-base hits.
Turner’s average dropped 32 points from his previous season, although his homers, stolen bases and runs all increased a bit. If he can get his average back closer to his career .296 mark, he’ll be a big-time draft steal, even going this early in drafts. I’m fine taking him anywhere near his ADP.
Kyle Schwarber is next up, ranking 48th with a mark of 53.66.
Across 160 games, Schwarber had a .197 average, .343 OBP, 115 total hits, 104 RBIs and 108 runs scored. He clubbed 47 homers among his 67 extra-base hits.
Schwarber is the ultimate boom-or-bust power hitter. He’s had a couple seasons where his average was over .250, and if that happens this season, he’d probably have a chance at being the top fantasy hitter in the game if his power numbers at least stayed the same. I like his ADP right where it is and view him as a solid OF2, although I’d surround him with plenty of contact hitters to offset a potentially low average again.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto is next up, ranking 91st with a mark of 98.04.
Realmuto played in 135 games in 2023, posting a .252 average, .310 OBP, 123 hits, 63 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and 70 runs. He homered 20 times among his 53 extra-base hits.
Realmuto is the fourth catcher off draft boards despite finishing eighth last season. He’s a bounceback candidate if he can raise his average, but I’d be much more comfortable drafting him a couple rounds later still.
Nick Castellanos ranks 114th with a mark of 121.53.
He played in 157 games in 2023, ending the season with a .272 average, .311 OBP, 170 total hits, 106 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 79 runs scored. Castellanos homered 29 times among his 68 extra-base hits.
I love the value Castellanos provides at his current ADP. I like him as a third or fourth outfielder - you’re going to be able to start him everyday, and he’s likely going to outproduce several of the OFs he’s taken after.
Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm are the team’s next two hitters on the ADP list. Stott ranks 141st with a mark of 140.96, while Bohm is 144th with a mark of 142.75.
Stott appeared in 151 games last season, finishing with a .280 average, .329 OBP, 164 total hits, 62 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and 78 runs scored. He homered 15 times among his 49 extra-base hits.
Bohm played in 145 games, posting a .274 average, .327 OBP, 153 total hits, 97 RBIs, four stolen bases and 74 runs scored. He clubbed 20 homers among his 51 extra-base hits.
Stott and Bohm are both borderline top-10 options at their positions. I like the production each guy provides and would be comfortable having them as starters. If you have them as backups or additional starters in the infield, your fantasy team is set up for some big-time success.
Whit Merrifield is the last Philly hitter on the ADP list, ranking 278th with a mark of 229. He’s projected to come off the bench, but can play all over the field, so could be in line for some starts if any number of guys go down. I’d view him as a waiver wire option though.
Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas are the team’s other projected starters. Marsh is projected to be in a platoon with Cristian Pache. Edmundo Sosa is another infield option, while Garrett Stubbs is the backup catcher. Keep a close eye on Marsh and Rojas if they make it through your fantasy draft.
