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 outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) left Sunday's contest against the Baltimore Orioles early after picking up a knee bruise. The good news is that he was removed from the game for precautionary reasons and is on record stating that if it were the regular season, he "most definitely" would have stayed in the game. The 27-year-old slipped on the warning track in the first inning, landing hard on his knee. He'd again land on the same knee in the third, making a catch in center field. While it isn't thought to be a significant issue, manager Rob Thomson noted that he won't play on Monday as previously scheduled. Fellow outfielder Max Kepler also left Sunday's outing early, and the Phillies are beginning to get thin at that position. Fortunately, both can be considered day-to-day.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Philadelphia Phillies and outfielder Brandon Marsh have settled on a $3 million contract to avoid arbitration. The 27-year-old operated as an everyday outfielder for the Phillies in 2024 and should be expected to retain that role in 2025. Last season, Marsh held a .249/.328/.419 slash line with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases. His 60 RBI matched a career-high. Under the hood, he generated a strong 47.4% hard-hit and 10.0% barrel rates, placing him in the 83rd and 68th percentile, respectively. While he posted a hefty 32.4% K rate, he was still able to draw walks at a solid 10.5% mark, which was above average. Given his ability to hit for power and swipe double-digit bags, Marsh remains a viable target in deeper five-outfielder leagues as long as he continues to have an everyday spot in the starting nine.
Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh Out In Game 3 Versus Lefty
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and outfielder Brandon Marsh are both out of the Game 3 lineup on Tuesday in the National League Division Series at Citi Field with a left-hander on the mound for the New York Mets. Edmundo Sosa will make the start at the keystone and bat eighth, while Austin Hays makes the start in left field and will hit seventh against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Stott had a big role in the Game 2 win on Sunday, hitting a two-run triple, but he'll take a seat with a lefty starting. Sosa has gone 4-for-8 in his career against Manaea with a homer, triple, double, three RBI and two strikeouts, so he'll be an intriguing DFS sleeper for Tuesday's games. Hays has only faced Manaea three times, but he does have two hits (one homer) and an RBI against him.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh is out of the lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park with a left-hander on the mound. With Marsh sitting, Weston Wilson will draw the start in left field for the Phillies and will bat in the eight-hole against Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker. At this point, fantasy managers should know to keep Marsh on their benches against lefties, as he's hit just .203 against them in 67 plate appearances in 2024 and has not gone deep against them at all. Against righties, he's a modest power/speed contributor in fantasy with 11 homers and 14 stolen bases in 310 total at-bats. Wilson is hitting .273 (9-for-33) in a limited sample size and will be a DFS sleeper option to avoid in the eight-hole on Thursday.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (elbow) is back in left field and is batting sixth for the Phillies on Tuesday against right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson and the hosting Minnesota Twins. Marsh was held out as a precaution in Monday's series opener in Minnesota due to right-elbow soreness, but he's fine now after a day off. Like most left-handed batters, Marsh has been much better against righty arms this year, batting .288 (55-for-191) against them with all nine of his home runs in 75 games played. However, fantasy managers may want to keep him on their benches since he hasn't recorded a hit since before the All-Star game and is hitless in his last 13 plate appearances with a walk and six strikeouts in his last six games. The former second-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2016 has never faced Woods Richardson in his career.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh will open Monday's series opener against the hosting Minnesota Twins on the bench. Weston Wilson will take over in left field for the Phillies and will bat eighth against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. Marsh is hitting .290 (55-for-190) with all nine of his home runs this year against right-handed pitching, but Ober has had reverse splits in 2024 and has been much better against left-handed hitters. Marsh is also batting .238 (5-for-21) with two homers, three RBI and eight strikeouts in the last 14 days over eight games played. Although Wilson is batting .278 for the Phillies this year, it's come in just 18 at-bats, and he'll have a low DFS ceiling while occupying the eighth spot in the batting order on Monday.
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and outfielders Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas are all out of the starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates and veteran left-hander Martin Perez. Edmundo Sosa is starting at second base and batting sixth, Weston Wilson is in left field and hitting seventh, and Cristian Pache is in center field and is batting in the nine-hole for the Phillies. Stott, Marsh and Rojas will have to wait until Saturday to get back into the starting lineup for the first time in the second half of the season after this week's All-Star break. Sosa is the best DFS sleeper pick for Friday's action of the trio and is hitting .667 with a 1.667 OPS against Perez in his career, albeit in only three at-bats.
With a left-hander on the mound for the visiting Oakland Athletics in the series opener on Friday, Philadelphia Phillies outfielders Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas will start on the bench. Weston Wilson, who was recalled from the minors, will start in left field and bat seventh, while Cristian Pache will draw into the lineup in center field and hit in the nine-hole against A's left-hander Hogan Harris. Marsh is having a solid year offensively with a .272 average (62-for-228) with nine homers, 35 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 72 games in 2024, but he's hitting just .149 (7-for-47) with no home runs against lefties. Rojas has done little with the bat, slashing .234/.271/.289 with two homers, but he has helped in deeper fantasy leagues with his 17 stolen bases. Rojas' lack of offensive punch is part of the reason the Phils are looking to trade for better center-field bat this summer.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh played a big role in Thursday's victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran went 2-for-4 on the evening with a triple, solo home run and two RBI. Marsh has quietly been having a solid season for the Phillies with a .272 batting average to go along with nine homers, 35 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 228 at-bats. Although he rests against a lot of left-handed pitching, Marsh has been productive when in the lineup. He is not a must-roster, but he has been swinging the bat very well of late and being part of a good offense only helps with his success at the dish. Managers seeking outfield depth should consider Marsh when looking at the waiver wire.
Brandon Marsh
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Phillies
