Whit Merrifield Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 1" / 195 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 1/24/1989 (35)
- Experience
- 8
- College
- South Carolina
Whit Merrifield Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Whit Merrifield News
Philadelphia Phillies utility man Whit Merrifield is starting in left field and is batting eighth on Monday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and left-hander Andrew Abbott. Brandon Marsh is moving to center field, which pushes Johan Rojas to the bench. Merrifield wasn't in the team's Opening Day lineup last Thursday, but he's started each of the last three games with left-handers on the mound. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star is looking likely to play anytime the Phils face lefties and to help fill in when others need days off throughout the year. So far through his two games played, he's gone 1-for-7 with a walk in eight plate appearances. As long as Merrifield sticks near the bottom of the Phillies' batting order, he's not going to have a very high fantasy ceiling on a daily basis.
Philadelphia Phillies utility player Whit Merrifield will get the start in left field on Saturday opposite Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried. The veteran was said to get some playing time this weekend with the Braves facing lefties both Saturday and Sunday. With Johan Rojas winning the everyday center field job, Merrifield will be relegated to the short side of a platoon alongside Brandon Marsh in left field this season. The 35-year-old inked a one-year pact with the Phillies this winter after hitting .272 with 11 home runs and 26 steals across 145 appearances with the Blue Jays last season. He'll have his hands full against Fried who posted a 2.55 ERA across an injury-shortened 14 starts a season ago.
Philadelphia Phillies infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield was not in the starting lineup for the team's season opener on Friday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, but with the Phillies facing lefties on Saturday and Sunday, Merrifield will likely be in the lineup, according to manager Rob Thomson. Merrifield told Thomson before signing in the offseason that, "I'll work myself into the lineup." The three-time All-Star hit .272/.318/.382 in 2023 with the Toronto Blue Jays with 11 home runs, 67 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 145 games in a bounce-back year. The short side of a platoon role in Philly hurts his overall upside for fantasy managers in deeper leagues, but Merrifield could be more efficient in 2024 if he's mostly facing lefties. He's a .289 career hitter in 526 games against southpaws.
Batting Order
1 | Kyle Schwarber |
2 | Trea Turner |
3 | Alec Bohm |
4 | Nick Castellanos |
5 | Whit Merrifield |
6 | Edmundo Sosa |
7 | Cristian Pache |
8 | Johan Rojas |
9 | Garrett Stubbs |
Whit Merrifield Stats
Last 10 Games
Batting Order
1 | Kyle Schwarber |
2 | Trea Turner |
3 | Alec Bohm |
4 | Nick Castellanos |
5 | Whit Merrifield |
6 | Edmundo Sosa |
7 | Cristian Pache |
8 | Johan Rojas |
9 | Garrett Stubbs |
Whit Merrifield signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies during the offseason. He slashed .272/.318/.382 with 11 home runs, 67 RBI, 66 runs, and 26 stolen bases over 145 games for the Blue Jays in 2023. The versatile utility man plays both second base and the corner outfield positions. Merrifield is in a utility role now, spelling Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Nick Castellanos when they need maintenance days off. If Merrifield can find his way to 400 at-bats, he will help in stolen bases and runs. ATC projects a .261 batting average, eight home runs, 18 stolen bases, 46 RBI, and 54 runs. Should any Phillies' regular go down to injury, Merrifield would likely be the beneficiary of more playing time. At a current NFBC ADP of 258, Merrifield is likely being over-drafted based on his current role projection.