Four homers in seven games have raised Kepler’s OPS to .817. That he’s sitting against lefties holds down his value, but maybe the Phillies will have a change of heart and opt to use him a full-time player, as they said they would after signing him. He has some of the best exit velocity numbers of his career, and he’s also striking out a tad less than usual.

Kepler knocked a base hit in the second inning, then put the Phillies on the board with a single in the fourth to drive in a run. He later extended the team lead with a solo homer off Ethan Roberts in the seventh inning. The 32-year-old outfielder is off to a strong start with his new team, hitting .267/.357/.407 with two homers and 12 runs scored across 98 plate appearances.

This is noteworthy because the Nationals are starting left-hander MacKenzie Gore. It was assumed that Kepler might sit against lefties, but that doesn’t appear to be the case, at least while Weston Wilson is on the IL. Given his strong home ballpark and good lineup around him, Kepler as an everyday player could provide sneaky fantasy value. The Phillies’ full lineup is: Trea Turner SS, Bryce Harper 1B, Alec Bohm 3B, Kyle Schwarber DH, J.T. Realmuto C, Max Kepler LF, Nick Castellanos RF, Bryson Stott 2B, and Brandon Marsh CF.