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Johan Rojas Johan Rojas Facing PED suspension
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 4:36 PM
Rojas failed a drug test for performance-enhancing drugs and is appealing his 80-game suspension, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Barring a surprise during the appeals process, Rojas is poised to sit out the first half of 2026 due to the positive drug test. The 25-year-old appeared in 71 regular-season games for the Phillies last season and had a .569 OPS. Even if the appeal goes his way, Rojas is not guaranteed to make Philadelphia's Opening Day roster. |
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Brandon Marsh Brandon Marsh Returns to lineup Tuesday
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 10:22 AM
Marsh (hand) will start in right field and bat third in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game versus the Rays.
Analysis: Marsh jammed his hand into the ground during sliding practice last week, forcing him to miss a few contests. He's ready to go now, though, and has ample time to get ramped up for Opening Day later this month. |
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Andrew Painter Andrew Painter Likely to make Opening Day rotation
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 6:27 PM
Painter threw two clean innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out one.
Analysis: Painter's spring debut went swimmingly -- he fired 14 of his 20 pitches for strikes and his four-seam fastball reached 97 mph on six occasions. With Zack Wheeler (shoulder) expected to start the new campaign on the injured list, the Phillies have an eye toward including Painter in the Opening Day rotation, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. While he turned in a lackluster 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 106.2 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley a year ago, the 22-year-old right-hander remains one of Philadelphia's top prospects and has an opportunity to overtake Taijuan Walker as the club's No. 5 starter even when Wheeler rejoins the rotation. |
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Zack Wheeler Zack Wheeler Throws second bullpen session
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 5:56 PM
Wheeler (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday, per Jim Salisburg of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Analysis: Sunday marked Wheeler's second session of the spring amid his recovery from venous thoracic outlet surgery. It remains unknown at this point if the All-Star right-hander will have enough time to get in any Grapefruit League action, and Wheeler's throwing progression will remain something for fantasy managers to monitor throughout spring training. Although Wheeler isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Phillies are hopeful the hurler won't need a lengthy stay on the injured list to begin the season. |
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Bryce Harper Bryce Harper Healthy numbers to begin spring
Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 11:05 PM
Harper went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Toronto.
Analysis: Harper socked his first homer during exhibition play Saturday, and he's now recorded two doubles, four RBI and three walks across his first four outings of spring training. It doesn't sound like the Phillies have any plans to shift Harper back to the outfield in 2026, but the All-Star slugger still remains one of the premier first baseman in fantasy circles. Harper has hit at least .260 in each regular season since 2018, and he hasn't finished with an OPS under .844 since 2016. |
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Cristopher Sanchez Cristopher Sanchez Dominant in abbreviated outing
Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 10:52 PM
Sanchez allowed two hits and no walks in two scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Toronto. He struck out four.
Analysis: Following a breakout 2025 campaign as a first-time All-Star, Sanchez picked up right where he left off a year ago while generating a whopping 12 whiffs across just 32 pitches in his first spring start. The left-hander was a model of consistency last season, submitting a league-leading 23 quality starts over 32 appearances, and he's now being drafted as one of the top starting pitchers on the fantasy board in 2026. |
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Aaron Nola Aaron Nola Mixed bag in first spring outing
Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 11:23 PM
Nola gave up one run on two hits in two innings during Friday's Grapefruit League game against Miami. He struck out two.
Analysis: It was a decent spring debut for Nola, who fired 20 pitches for strikes among his 31 offerings and induced six swings and misses. The 32-year-old right-hander got his fastball velocity up to 92.9 mph, which is actually an encouraging figure after he averaged just 91.4 mph amidst an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Nola is hoping to rebound for the Phillies in 2026 -- he turned in a career-worst 6.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP covering 17 regular-season starts last year. |
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Orion Kerkering Orion Kerkering Getting back on mound Saturday
Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 3:54 PM
Kerkering (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain. If things go well Saturday, Kerkering would likely then progress to facing hitters before appearing in a game. The right-handed reliever has plenty of time to ramp up for Opening Day, barring setbacks. |
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Zack Wheeler Zack Wheeler Early-April return possible
Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 11:25 AM
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Wheeler's (shoulder) bullpen session Thursday could be the beginning of a six-week ramp-up to "possibly" make the righty ready to rejoin the major-league rotation at the end of it, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wheeler threw a 21-pitch bullpen session at 80-to-85 percent effort Thursday, marking the first time he's thrown off a mound since he had surgery last September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The hurler said afterward of the bullpen session that, "I felt good, I felt smooth, natural." Six weeks from Thursday would be April 9 and the Phillies are idle that day, but any timetable at this juncture for Wheeler is approximate. Wheeler is unsure whether he will pitch in a Grapefruit League game this spring, noting that "I don't even know when my next bullpen is." The Phillies will tread carefully with the three-time All-Star, but his recovery has gone as good as could be expected to this point. |
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Taijuan Walker Taijuan Walker Set for starting role to begin year
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 9:56 PM
Walker allowed one run on three hits in two innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out one.
Analysis: The 33-year-old right-hander is preparing to begin the season as Philadelphia's No. 5 starter, as Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is expected to start the year on the injured list. Whether or not Walker holds onto a spot in the rotation once Wheeler is ready to pitch remains a question mark -- top prospect Andrew Painter poses a significant threat to Walker's role in 2026. That said, Walker should be able to offer a bit of streaming appeal in deep fantasy leagues in favorable matchups for as long he sticks around in the rotation. |
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Bryson Stott Bryson Stott Smacks first spring homer
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 9:49 PM
Stott went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Analysis: Stott swatted his first homer of the spring, reaching base safely three times. The 28-year-old middle infielder is lined up as Philadelphia's primary second baseman to begin 2026 but is likely to sit in favor of Edmundo Sosa versus left-handed pitching. It remains to been seen where Stott will hit most frequently in the Phillies' batting order, but fantasy managers should expect him to slot somewhere into the lower half of the lineup to open the new year. |
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Zack Wheeler Zack Wheeler Throws bullpen session Thursday
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 12:38 PM
Wheeler (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Thursday, John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: Wheeler began throwing on flat ground in early December, but this is the first time he's thrown from the bump since he had surgery last September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The veteran right-hander is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the hope is that his stay on the 15-day injured list will be a brief one. Wheeler -- who turns 36 in late May -- posted a 2.71 ERA and 195:33 K:BB over 149.2 regular-season innings covering 24 starts in 2025 before getting hurt. |
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Brad Keller Brad Keller Preparing for setup role
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 10:12 PM
Keller threw a clean first inning in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Detroit. He struck out one.
Analysis: Keller needed only 11 pitches to retire the side in his spring debut, with his sinker topping out at 97.3 mph. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Phillies over the winter, and Keller is preparing to serve as the primary right-handed setup man for closer Jhoan Duran in 2026, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. |
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Andrew Painter Andrew Painter Will debut Sunday
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 5:41 PM
Painter will make his spring training debut Sunday against the Yankees, Corey Seidman of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Painter so far has been working on changing his arm angle to match where it was prior to his Tommy John surgery. This will be his first spring training start since 2023. With Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet syndrome) out until at least late April, the Phillies are planning on Painter making their rotation to begin the season despite his substandard 2025 Triple-A season. |
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Brandon Marsh Brandon Marsh Held out with hand injury
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 3:28 PM
Marsh is dealing with hand soreness and is not expected to return to Grapefruit League play until at least next Tuesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Marsh jammed the hand into the ground during sliding practice. There don't appear to be any plans to send him for imaging, as the Phillies are simply exercising caution early in camp. Marsh is in line to be the Phillies' primary left fielder this season after slashing .280/.342/.443 with 11 home runs over 133 regular-season contests in 2025. |
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Kyle Schwarber Kyle Schwarber Goes deep as No. 2 hitter
Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 7:09 PM
Schwarber went 1-for-2 with a solo home run during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.
Analysis: After securing a five-year, $150 million contract with the Phillies this offseason, Schwarber wasted no time getting into the homer column during his first appearance of the spring. The All-Star slugger hit second in Philadelphia's lineup Sunday, and his placement in the batting order throughout Grapefruit League play could offer an idea as to how manager Rob Thomson plans to deploy Schwarber in the lineup this year. |
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Johan Rojas Johan Rojas Starting in center field Sunday
Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 7:39 AM
Rojas (quadriceps) will start in center field and bat ninth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 25-year-old was optioned to Triple-A last year after the Phillies acquired Harrison Bader at the trade deadline, and a subsequent quad injury kept Rojas from being an option in the postseason. Although heralded for his outfield defense, he has struggled offensively in the big leagues with a .633 OPS in 699 plate appearances. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has already said that he envisions a starting outfield consisting of Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford and Adolis Garcia to begin 2026, but Rojas could provide a short-side platoon partner for Marsh in left field or Crawford in center. |
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Otto Kemp Otto Kemp Ready for spring opener
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 7:41 AM
Kemp (kneecap, shoulder) will start in left field and bat cleanup in Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Blue Jays, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Kemp underwent a pair of surgeries in the offseason -- one to repair a fracture in his left kneecap and another to clean out damage to his left shoulder. He seems to be a full-go this spring regardless, and the 26-year-old Kemp appears slated to fill a super-utility role for Philadelphia after appearing at four different positions as a rookie (third base, first base, second base and left field). |
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Connor Gillispie Connor Gillispie Gets minors deal from Phillies
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 12:44 PM
The Phillies signed Gillispie to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Steve Potter of PhilliesBaseballFan.com reports.
Analysis: Gillispie made six starts for the Marlins last season, getting torched for 26 runs (25 earned) over 26 innings, and he was arguably worse at the Triple-A level with a 7.23 ERA and 28:25 K:BB in 47.1 frames. The righty will give the Phillies some experienced rotation depth at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. |
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Zack Wheeler Zack Wheeler Ups throwing distance to 120 feet
Mon, Feb 16, 2026, 1:02 PM
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Wheeler (shoulder) extended his throwing distance off flat ground to 120 feet Monday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Thomson acknowledged that he's uncertain when Wheeler will be ready to resume mound work, but the veteran right-hander is continuing to make steady progress in his throwing program after he underwent a procedure in mid-August to remove a blood clot near his shoulder and another surgery Sept. 23 to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. At this point, the Phillies don't seem to be counting on Wheeler to be ready to go for Opening Day, but the 35-year-old appears on track to avoid an extended stay on the shelf to begin the 2025 campaign. Before being shut down last summer, Wheeler was firmly in the mix for the NL Cy Young Award after going 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 195 strikeouts in 149.2 innings over 24 starts. |
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