The Position Player: Giancarlo Stanton
I went back and forth between Ozuna and Stanton for awhile with this pick. A quick look at the stats so far this season does not help much as they are virtually identical. It required a closer look at the two outfielders’ numbers against the Phillies inside Citizen’s Bank Park.
When it comes down to it, the player who seems to be a more difficult out right now is Stanton. So far in 2017, the Miami right fielder has the team lead in home runs (7), walks (8), runs scored (11), and OPS (.981). He is currently second (to Ozuna) in batting average (.300) and runs batted in (15).
Looking over the course of his seven-year career against the Phillies, Stanton has 19 homers with 44 RBI. In 86 games, he has slashed an impressive .252/.334/.481, but has struck out 110 times in 354 official plate appearances.
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Stanton has hit 10 of those 19 homers in Philadelphia but the rest of his line has not been nearly as impressive (.229/.319/.446). He has hit quite a few moonshots at CBP that have landed on different parts of Ashburn Alley. He is truly a threat for a round-tripper every time he steps in the box.
It seems as though early on in 2017, Stanton is having trouble with pitches on the inner part of the plate.
It makes sense when you consider the home runs he hits. The powerful 27-year old loves to get his arms extended. Anything that is hanging over the middle to outer part of the plate will end up taking a long ride into the left field bleachers (or Ashburn Alley).
And that is exactly what the Phillies want to avoid.