Phillies' Bryce Harper: Sitting for regular-season finale
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Harper is absent from Sunday's lineup against Washington.
Harper will begin Sunday's contest in the dugout as Alec Bohm starts at first base and bats fifth. Unless Harper pinch hits, he'll end the regular season with a slash line of .285/.373/.525, seven stolen bases, 30 home runs and 87 RBI across 631 plate appearances.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Belts 29th homer
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Harper went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Brewers.
He took Frankie Montas deep in the sixth inning to break open a 1-1 tie, putting Harper one long ball short of his fifth career 30-homer campaign. The veteran slugger has been heating up with the playoffs looming, and over the last 11 games Harper is slashing .386/.426/.727 with six doubles, three homers, seven runs and eight RBI.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Homers twice in win
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Harper went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Mets.
According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Harper had gone 128 plate appearances without a home run before smacking a solo shot in the fourth inning. Despite the homerless drought, the slugger has now tallied six multi-hit efforts and nine extra-base hits through 12 September contests. On the season, he's batting .290 with 28 long balls, 82 RBI, 79 runs scored and five steals across 577 plate appearances.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: In Thursday's lineup
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Harper (elbow) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Marlins.
Harper had to make an early exit from Wednesday's contest after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, but his bruise won't be enough to prevent him from playing in Thursday's series opener. Over his last 10 games, the 31-year-old slugger has gone 13-for-34 with two RBI and four runs scored.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Departs after HBP
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Harper was removed from Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to a left elbow contusion, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The 31-year-old stayed in the game after being hit by a pitch in the left elbow during the first inning, though he was replaced by a pinch hitter for his second plate appearance. Harper is being further evaluated, which could include medical imaging. He should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Playing through wrist, elbow issues
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Harper revealed last week that he's been playing through a sore wrist and sore right elbow, MLB.com reports.
Harper was seen wincing after taking a swing in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays, but he stayed in that game and is back in the lineup Wednesday. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Harper's elbow "grabs a little bit" on swings and misses, but he said his first baseman is "fine" and there are no current plans to give him rest. Harper noted last week that he's battled wrist soreness since May, while the elbow issue is more recent. He's slashing .307/.373/.465 since Aug. 1 but hasn't homered since Aug. 9.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: On base four times Monday
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Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros.
The 31-year-old played hero for the Phillies, walking it off with a 10th-inning single that brought home Kyle Schwarber as the phantom runner. Harper also has a two-bagger in four straight contests, and through 22 games in August he's slashing .287/.354/.460 with nine doubles, two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Not starting Sunday
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Harper is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Harper will begin Sunday's game in the dugout. He's gone 0-for-7 with one walk and one strikeout over the last two games against Washington. Alec Bohm will man first base and bat third against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Crushes 23rd homer
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Harper went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 7-2 loss at Minnesota.
The Philadelphia superstar opened the game's scoring with a titanic 424-foot, two-run homer off Bailey Ober in his first career at-bat at Target Field. After being slowed by hamstring and hand injuries to open this month, Harper is now hitting .242 (8-for-33) with three homers, seven runs scored, seven RBI and six walks in nine July games. Overall, the two-time NL MVP is slashing .297/.395/.578 across 375 plate appearances this season.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Homer, three RBI in win
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Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Athletics.
Harper's solo home run in the seventh inning marked a personal milestone, as he has now homered against all 30 major-league organizations. He also walked twice and added a two-run double in his best effort since returning from the injured list July 9. With one game to go before the break, the National League's starting first baseman in the upcoming All-Star Game is batting .303 with 21 home runs, 61 RBI, 55 runs and four steals across 354 plate appearances.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Back in action Thursday
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Harper (hand) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Dodgers.
Harper suffered a bruised left hand during Tuesday's victory and ended up having to sit out Wednesday's contest, but the 31-year-old slugger is now feeling well enough to return to the field. He went 0-for-4 in his return from a stint on the injured list Tuesday but had slashed .423/.455/.865 with five homers and 12 RBI during a 12-game hitting streak prior to landing on the IL.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Won't start Wednesday
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Harper (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
In his return from the 10-day injured list for Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers, Harper experienced no renewed complications with the hamstring injury that had previously sidelined him, but he suffered a bruise to his glove hand when it was struck by a Freddie Freeman line drive. Harper was still able to take part in pregame activities Wednesday, so the Phillies could just be holding him out of the lineup as a matter of precaution. Alec Bohm will cover first base in Harper's stead.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Nursing bruised hand
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Harper is questionable to play Wednesday versus the Dodgers after bruising his left hand during Tuesday's 10-1 win, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
A line drive hit by Freddie Freeman caught Harper in a bad spot on his glove hand, and Harper is apparently still dealing with some soreness Wednesday. He will test the hand out in the batting cage before the Phillies determine if he can start. Even if Harper is withheld from the lineup Wednesday, the injury wouldn't appear to be a long-term concern.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Activated and in Tuesday's lineup
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The Phillies activated Harper (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Harper spent the minimum 10 days on the IL while he recovered from a strained left hamstring. He'll be back in action for Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers, manning first base and batting third.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Could be activated Tuesday
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper (hamstring) is "in play" to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
While Thomson confirmed that Kyle Schwarber (groin) will be back with the big club Tuesday, the skipper was less certain that Harper will be ready to go for the start of the three-game series with the NL West leaders. On a positive note, Harper ran on the field for a second straight day Sunday, with Zolecki relaying that the first baseman appeared to be moving at close to 100 percent intensity. Harper has been on the IL since June 28 with a left hamstring strain, with his absence opening up regular playing time at first base for Kody Clemens against right-handed pitching.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Runs bases with no issues
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Manager Rob Thomson said Saturday that Harper (hamstring) had a "good day" running the bases and that the 31-year-old will run the bases again Sunday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Harper has been out with a low-grade hamstring strain since June 27, but he's been progressing well enough to potentially return prior to the All-Star break. He was participating in on-field drills at 70-75 percent intensity earlier this week. Harper becomes eligible to come off the injured list Tuesday.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Doing drills at 70-to-75 percent
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Harper (hamstring) is currently able to go through drills at 70-to-75 percent intensity, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Harper is eligible for activation July 9 as he works his way back from a strained left hamstring. While the Phillies won't hesitate to activate Harper next week if he's ready, they do have the All-Star break looming the following week if they decide to give the first baseman a little more time.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Headed to IL with low-grade strain
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The Phillies placed Harper on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain.
Harper suffered the injury on the final play of Thursday's loss to the Marlins while running out a grounder. The good news is it's considered a low-grade strain and Harper might return as soon as July 9, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The Phillies could also play things cautiously and hold him out until after the All-Star break. While Harper is sidelined, Philadelphia will likely shift Alec Bohm over to first base and put Edmundo Sosa at third.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Harper felt hamstring tightness while running to first base in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Marlins, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Harper sustained the injury on a groundout to end the game. Manager Rob Thompson said no more details were known about the issue but that there would be more information Friday.
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Phillies' Bryce Harper: Homers again in loss
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Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 4-1 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday.
Harper provided the only offense for the Phillies, hitting a solo home run off Jason Foley in the ninth inning. It was the slugger's second consecutive day with a home run, and he has now gone a ridiculous 20-for-43 with five homers, 11 RBI and 13 runs scored over a current 10-game hitting streak. On the season, he is hitting .306 with 20 home runs, 57 RBI and 52 runs scored through 278 at-bats.
