Fantasy baseball: 2020 Philadelphia Phillies fantasy preview

2020 Philadelphia Phillies projected starting rotation

Aaron Nola, RHP (12-7, 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 229 K in 202.1 IP)
Zach Wheeler, RHP (11-8, 3.96 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 195 K in 195.1 IP with NYM)
Jake Arrieta, RHP (8-8, 4.64 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 110 K in 135.2 IP)
Vince Velasquez, RHP (7-8, 4.91 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 130 K in 117.1 IP)
Zach Eflin, RHP (10-13, 4.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 129 K in 163.1 IP)
Hector Neris, RHP (3-6, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 89 K in 67.2 IP, 28/34 saves)

Nola’s numbers were a bit disappointing after his monster 2018 season, but last season might be more normal than 2018 was. I expect good strikeout numbers and good WHIP/ERA numbers, but Nola isn’t a top of the fantasy rotation starter right now. I have no issues using him as second or third in my fantasy rotation if the rest of the team looks solid.

Wheeler is really the only other Phillies starter that deserves a locked in rotation spot in standard leagues. Wheeler has an ERA under 4 in four of his five major league seasons. The only one in which he was over was an injury-riddled 2017 campaign. Wheeler is solid for the middle of your fantasy rotation.

I understand why people will still draft Arrieta, but last year was his worst year since 2013 when the Orioles gave up on him and traded him to the Cubs. Arrieta has never been a high strikeout guy, but he had 80 less last year than three years ago in only six less starts. He’s 34. Arrieta is going to get worse, not better. Let someone else have the headache.

Velasquez, Eflin, and Nick Pivetta are nothing to write home about fantasy wise. They are streaming options at best with Velasquez still having the most upside, but at 27 years old, time is running out.

Neris is a strong mid-tier closer with good strikeout numbers. None of his number are going to hurt you and he’s playing for a good team. Neris is just outside my top tier and he seems to have a stranglehold on the job.

Prospects to watch:

The Phillies are loaded with pitching prospects and they have a shaky back of the rotation. If Spencer Howard pitches like he did last year in high-A and AA, he’ll be in the rotation by August. If Howard gets the call, he’s worth a look. He’s 23 with solid control and a major-league ready fastball.

If Adonis Medina can harness his potential, he may actually jump Howard this year. Medina struggled a bit at AA last year, but he can rack up the strikeouts with the best of them. He just needs to trim the walks to get a chance.

The Phillies would love to get one of their prized lefties to the majors to stay this year. Damon Jones seems the most likely. He struggled at AAA Lehigh Valley, but he mowed through high-A and AA last year. He doesn’t quite have the potential of JoJo Romero, but Jones looks closer to the majors right now and could be a nice streamer for your team should he get the call.

David Parkinson has racked up high strikeout totals at every level of the minors so far and has better control than both Romero and Jones. Be on the lookout for him. He could jump both with a strong start at Lehigh Valley.

The scary thing is that both Connor Seabold and Cole Irvin could be close to cracking the rotation as well. If MLB plays the season with expanded rosters and doubleheaders, at least one of them will. Irvin struggled last year in the majors, but Seabold has excelled at every level of the minors.

There are 15 more of these where this came from! Sports may be on hold, but we will have baseball sometime this season. We here at FanSided Fantasy are going to make sure you’re prepared!