Fantasy Baseball: 2 Philadelphia Phillies to Watch in the Second Half

Brad White/Getty Images

The Phillies offense has been much maligned over the course of the first half of the season.

However, the trend over the last five seasons with this club is that their second halves are much stronger than their firsts.

There are a few players on this ball club that bear watching down the stretch. 

Here are a selection of a few Phillies that fantasy baseball players need to keep an eye on in the second half.

Shane Victorino

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Batting .303 with 9 HR and 34 RBI, Victorino will most likely be called upon to hit out of the no. 5 spot in the line-up behind Ryan Howard when the centerfielder returns from the disabled list after the All Star Break.

Victorino will have his RBI chances increase with this placement in the order.

Also, with 9 triples, 9 home runs, 14 doubles, and 13 stolen bases, he is only a triple and a home run away from having his third consecutive quadruple double season in which he reaches double digits in doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases.

Ryan Howard

Abelimages/Getty Images

The league leader in RBIs, Howard has turned it on in the second half in a big way in each of his five full-time major league seasons prior to 2011.

August and September are usually Howard's months to shine and take this team on his back for the stretch run.

Watch for Howard's production to rise as the games get more important down the stretch.