Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera is out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. It will be Herrera's second straight game starting on the bench, and his 2-for-33 (.061) stretch at the plate in nine games over the last two weeks probably has a lot to do with it. The recent cold streak has dropped his season line to .230/.267/.401 with five home runs, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases in 49 games. With Herrera out again, Matt Vierling will get the start in center field and will bat ninth against Braves right-hander Ian Anderson. You can probably do much better than Vierling in DFS if you're looking for an outfielder sleeper. He's hitting .237 with three homers, seven RBI and two stolen bases in 93 at-bats in 2021.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera was scratched from the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers about 30 minutes before the first pitch. He was the second Philly to be scratched from the team's original starting lineup. Nick Castellanos was an earlier scratch to tend to the birth of his child. As for Herrera, we have not been given the reason for his scratch yet. Perhaps he's racing to the hospital with the hope of earning some godfather points for the soon-to-be-born Castellanos child. Matt Vierling is taking over for Herrera in center field and batting ninth in Tuesday's game.
Phillies Activate Odubel Herrera From Injured List
The Philadelphia Phillies activated outfielder Odubel Herrera (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned outfielder Simon Muzziotti to Double-A Reading in a corresponding move. Herrera began the regular season on the injured list due to a right oblique strain that was suffered early in spring training. The 30-year-old hit .281 with three doubles, four runs scored and three RBI in eight minor league rehab games. Herrera should make his season debut on Friday against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta while playing center field, and he should be on the strong side of a platoon at the position with Matt Vierling in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera (oblique) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley this week, and manager Joe Girardi said that Herrera could return to the team as early as their next homestand, which begins on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Herrera has been on a rehab assignment with Single-A Clearwater since April 12. The 30-year-old center fielder began the regular season on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique, but he has made good progress and could make his season debut at some point this weekend. When he's back, expect Matt Vierling and Herrera to split playing time in center field, with Herrera seeing the strong side of the platoon against right-handers.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera (oblique) could miss four to six weeks due to a mild strain in his right oblique. He is expected to miss Opening Day, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to return to action. The 30-year-old re-signed on a one-year deal with the Phillies during the offseason. Herrera slashed .260/.310/.416 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and six steals in 492 plate appearances over 124 games in 2021. Adam Haseley and Matt Vierling will get a look in center field while Herrera is sidelined. Both are expected to split time and are mainly borderline fantasy options in NL-only leagues.
The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed outfielder Odubel Herrera to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday. The Phillies weren't going to spend big bucks on a new center field in free agency, so they decided to settle for Herrera, who was actually pretty solid against right-handed pitchers in 2021. The 30-year-old is projected to serve in a platoon role in center this year, so his fantasy value will likely be limited to deep and NL-only leagues. Matt Vierling is expected to split time in center with Herrera. An All-Star back in 2016, Herrera played in 39 games in 2019 due to a suspension and sat out all of 2020 before returning last year to hit .260/.310/.416 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and six steals in 492 plate appearances over 124 games.
Free-agent outfielder Odubel Herrera is close to re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to sources. The 30-year-old played in 124 games with the Phillies last year, with 104 of them coming in center field. If he re-signs, he figures to be at least part of the solution to the team's center field hole in 2022. Rookie Matt Vierling could be half of a platoon situation at the position. He hits right-handed, while Herrera hits from the left side. Herrera has been with the Phillies for the last seven seasons. He was an All-Star in 2016 but was suspended 85 games for violating the league's policy on domestic violence in 2019 and didn't play at all in 2020. Herrera hit .260 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and a .726 OPS in 2021 and would mainly be an option in deeper leagues if he's platooning back in Philly.
The Philadelphia Phillies have outrighted six players off their roster, all of whom have elected free agency. Outfielders Odubel Herrera and Travis Jankowski, infielder Ronald Torreyes, catcher Andrew Knapp, and pitchers J.D. Hammer and Ramon Rosso will all test the market. Of those names, Herrera is the most relevant to fantasy managers, as he slashed .260/.310/.416 with 13 homers and six steals in 492 plate appearances during the 2021 season as the starting center fielder for the team. None of these players are expected to be drafted in 2022 fantasy drafts, but Herrera and Jankowski could each hold relevance if they find playing time at their next landing spots.
Phillies Decline Options On Andrew McCutchen, Odubel Herrera
The Philadelphia Phillies declined 2022 club options on outfielders Andrew McCutchen ($15 million) and Odubel Herrera ($11.5 million) on Wednesday. McCutchen becomes a free agent, while the Phils retain the rights to Herrera, who is eligible for salary arbitration. They bought the two outfielders out for $3 million and $2.5 million, respectively. McCutchen hit just .222 but had 27 home runs, 80 RBI and a .778 OPS in 574 plate appearances in 2021. With a 1.027 OPS against lefties and a .650 OPS against right-handers, the 35-year-old could be an ideal platoon option at this late stage of his career. Herrera hit .260 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and a .726 OPS in 492 plate appearances.
Odubel Herrera Sets The Table For Win Over Pittsburgh
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera went 3-for-5 with two runs scored to set the pace for a 12-run outburst versus the Pirates on Thursday. Herrera needed a game like this as he was sporting just a .292 on-base percentage through 19 September games and was in danger of being dropped out of the leadoff spot. On the season, Herrera is slashing .257/.310/.416 with 13 homers, 57 runs, 50 RBI, and six stolen bases as he's been a fringe starter in 12-14 team fantasy leagues. Those looking for help in runs scored can start Herrera as he's got three more good matchups with the Pirates on tap.
