One of the National League’s hottest hitters thus far in 2023 has been Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh. The 25-year-old became a fan favorite in Philly last year, and he’s been a key piece of the Phillies’ offense in the team’s first two weeks. But, should you target Marsh — a hitter known for struggling against lefties — in fantasy? Let’s take a closer look at the young Phillies outfielder.
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A Look at Marsh
It’s hard to say that many people had Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh projected to be one of the league’s best hitters over the first two weeks of 2023. Among hitters who had at least 28 plate appearances — roughly three plate appearances per game — between March 30-March 12, only Red Sox OF Adam Duvall (1.544) and Blue Jays 3B Matt Chapman (1.390) had higher OPS figures than Marsh (1.280).
The 25-year-old, acquired by the Phillies last summer for catcher Logan O’Hoppe, played a pivotal role for Philadelphia during the team’s run to the World Series last fall. Marsh is well-known for his speed and defensive ability, but he’s doing with the bat as well in 2023. The Phillies outfielder hit .379 over his first ten games and hit two home runs and eight extra base hits in total. Additionally, Marsh has a stolen base and seven RBI on his ledger.
With Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins out of the Phillies lineup, Philadelphia needed the likes of Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber to step up. Yet, Marsh has been arguably the Phillies best hitter over the team’s first two weeks of the season. So, should you target Marsh in fantasy?
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Marsh has the power and the speed to be an impact player in fantasy. However, his value will be tied to how much he can hit lefties, and whether he’ll get the chance to face left-handed pitchers on a regular basis. Thus far, he has been able to do that.
In a small sample size of eleven plate appearances, Marsh owns a .364/.364/.909 with a home run and four runs batted in. Those numbers are strong, but it’s hard not to think about his 2022 season in which he only hit .188 over 105 PA.
With new Phillies outfielder Cristian Pache, whom Philadelphia acquired shortly before the start of the 2023 season, off to a sluggish start, expect Marsh to get a fair amount of opportunities against lefties. If you have an extra roster spot and are in need of a backup outfielder, Marsh is worth a look. However, be careful of deploying him on days in which the Phillies face a left-handed pitcher.
