MLB Player News

Harper will play four innings in right field in a minor-league game Monday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The original plan was to restrict Harper to designated hitter duties, but he felt confident enough to test his bruised ankle with some defensive work. Assuming that goes well, he'll be back with the big-league squad Wednesday. Barring setbacks, he should be unaffected by the start of the regular season.

Carpenter (back) isn't included in the Cardinals' lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Carpenter will get some more time to recover after he was surprisingly scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Marlins due to back tightness. The issue isn't believed to be a major concern or anything that will impact Carpenter's availability for Opening Day, but he could sit out a few more spring contests for precautionary reasons.

Harper went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Harper, who didn't play Saturday after getting hit by a pitch in the foot the day before, went hitless in his return to action (as the designated hitter). The outfielder is now 0-for-8 with a stolen base and 4:5 BB:K through five games this spring. According to Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Harper is scheduled to play in a minor-league contest Monday before returning to the field Wednesday against the Tigers.

Reyes hasn't played since Thursday due to fatigue, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Manager Andy Green downplayed the issue, noting that he's just giving Reyes some rest because the outfielder is tired from playing a lot this spring. Reyes is apparently moving around fine and says he'll be back in the lineup soon. It sounds like his absence is mostly precautionary, though the situation will be worth monitoring with Opening Day less than two weeks away.

Harper (foot) is batting third and serving as the designated hitter Sunday against the Yankees.

Harper missed Saturday's game after getting hit by a pitch in the foot the day before. The Phillies are playing it safe and keeping the outfielder from playing the field in his first game back, but his presence in the lineup as DH all but confirms the issue isn't anything that will have an effect on his status for the start of the season.

Manager Mike Shildt said Carpenter was scratched from Sunday's spring game due to back tightness, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports.

Shildt didn't seem too worried about the issue, and the expectation is that Carpenter will only miss a couple of days before hopefully returning to the lineup. That said, the 33-year-old's status will be worth monitoring over the next week with the start of the season drawing closer.

Carpenter was expected to be in the lineup for Sunday's spring game against the Marlins, but was not included for a yet-to-be-announced reason, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It's not clear why Carpenter's name was omitted from Sunday's lineup, but the most likely reason would be some sort of injury.

Harper (foot) could be back in the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper didn't play Saturday after getting hit by a pitch in the foot the day before, but he did play catch and do agility work. He'll be evaluated Sunday morning and may not quite be ready to go, but the fact that a return is already possible bodes well for him being unaffected by Opening Day.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Harper is considered day to day after being hit by a pitch on the ankle Friday and added that there are "no concerns" about the outfielder's availability for Opening Day, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Harper gave fantasy players and Phillies fans a jolt when limped off the field in Friday's contest, but the initial reports were positive, and there was even better news Saturday morning, as Kapler noted the swelling in Harper's ankle reduced overnight. Harper could get a day or two to rest and recover from his injury, but with Kapler optimistic about his status for Opening Day, there's reason for fantasy managers to be as well.

Harper's initial X-rays on his foot were negative, though he'll have more imaging done Saturday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies' believed Harper avoided serious injury after getting hit in the foot by a pitch Friday against the Blue Jays, and his firsts tests seem to have confirmed that. How much time he'll need to miss, if any, will likely be determined following Saturday's reevaluation.