Bryce Harper Injury News & Updates

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday that Harper will strictly play first base moving forward, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Harper is almost a full calendar year removed from his November 2023 Tommy John surgery and there has been some thought that he could return to the outfield in 2024, but the 31-year-old slugger apparently took a liking to first base this past season and will now make it his permanent position in Philadelphia. Dombrowski noted that he spoke to Harper at length behind the scenes before making this news public.

Harper isn't in the Phillies' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Mets.

Harper turned in an 0-for-3 performance during Philadelphia's Game 1 loss, and he'll now get a breather for the nightcap. Weston Wilson will pick up a start at first base instead and bat sixth.

Harper was ejected from Thursday's game against the Pirates, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Harper appeared to check his swing on a full count in the third inning, but the third base umpire ruled that he went around. He voiced his displeasure with the decision and was ejected from the game as a result. Harper ended his day 0-for-1 with a walk.

Harper went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh.

After logging a pair of doubles earlier in the game, Harper provided the eventual winning run with a 427-foot homer off Jose Hernandez in the seventh inning. The 30-year-old Harper has been on fire down the stretch, going 9-for-18 with a pair of homers in his last six games. He's boosted his slash line to .296/.402/.503 with 21 homers, 84 runs scored, 72 RBI and 11 steals across 540 plate appearances this season.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Mets.

He got the Phillies on the board by leading off the second inning with a solo shot off Jose Quintana. Harper extended his run-scoring streak to seven games in the process, and over his last 13 contests he's slashing .279/.446/.651 with five of his 20 homers on the season along with one steal, 11 RBI and 13 runs.

Harper was ejected from Friday's game against the Cardinals, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Harper was upset by a called second strike that looked to be high and out of the strike zone. He struck out swinging on the next pitch and voiced his displeasure to the home plate umpire prior to being tossed.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Monday's loss against Atlanta.

His two-run game-tying blast came with two-outs in the ninth to send the game to extras. Harper entered the opening game of Monday's double-header with a modest four-game hit streak that only slightly masked a 4-for-32 homer-less slump over his past nine games. Harper is now slashing .296/.396/.484 with 16 homers, 60 RBI, 71 runs and nine steals in 405 at-bats over 109 games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo homer and an additional run scored in Tuesday's victory over the Angels.

Harper launched another no-doubt home run Tuesday, a solo shot that ricocheted off the second-deck facade to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning. His hot streak has boosted his season-long home run total to 14, accompanied by a .309 batting average, .899 OPS, 53 RBI, 65 runs, and seven steals across 98 games.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Monday's win over the Angels.

The 30-year-old launched a two-run homer off Lucas Giolito in the fourth inning that left the bat at an impressive 111.9 mph and traveled 429 feet to right center. Harper rolled with the punches following his return from Tommy John surgery, hitting just five home runs in his first 77 games. The fantasy standout has been delivering the punches lately, with eight long balls and a stellar .375/.465/.819 slash line over his last 20 games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.

Harper tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning with a clutch three-run homer off Camilo Doval. Harper's now homered in three straight contests, giving him 12 on the season, despite being limited to DH duties while recovering from back stiffness. He's gone 12-for-26 (.462) with five long balls in his last seven games, boosting his slash line to .299/.392/.468 with 59 runs scored, 47 RBI and seven steals across 406 plate appearances this season.

Harper remains limited to designated hitter duty for the time being due to a nagging back issue, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It explains why Harper hasn't been able to play first base since Sunday, as he's still dealing with a bit of back stiffness which first surfaced a couple weeks ago. The Phillies have not ruled out Harper returning to first base Friday following Thursday's off day.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's victory over the Giants.

The 30-year-old fantasy stalwart deposited a first-inning offering from Kyle Harrison into the right field seats for a two-run shot. Harper has been red-hot over his last six contests, boasting a slash line of .455/.586/1.045 with four home runs, six RBI, eight runs scored, five walks and just two strikeouts across 29 plate appearances during that stretch.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run in Monday's win over San Francisco.

Harper tied the game 1-1 in the first inning with an RBI single before legging out an inside-the-park home run in the fifth. He's now 8-for-19 (.421) with three homers over his last five games. Overall, Harper's slash line is up to .293/.385/.449 with 10 homers, 57 runs scored, 42 RBI and seven steals through 397 plate appearances this season.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a walk, two solo home runs and a third run scored in Wednesday's 9-4 win over the Blue Jays.

It's the first multi-homer performance of the season for Harper, who took Kevin Gausman deep in the third inning before wrapping up the scoring on the night with a blast to right-center field off Bowden Francis in the ninth. Harper is finding his groove in August, slashing .302/.356/.642 through 14 games with six doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and 10 runs as the Phillies begin their playoff push.

Harper (back) is starting as the Phillies' designated hitter Saturday against the Twins.

Harper made an early exit Thursday after experiencing back spasms and was forced to sit out Friday's game as well. He'll be back in action Saturday and look to remain hot with a .316/.357/.605 slash line since the start of August.

Harper (back) isn't in the Phillies' lineup Friday against Minnesota, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper was removed from Thursday's game against Washington after experiencing back spasms in the fifth inning. The Phillies are unsure what caused Harper's back to start giving him problems, but it's apparently severe enough to cause him to miss a start. Alec Bohm will shift to first base while Harper sits, allowing Edmundo Sosa to fill in at third and bat eighth.

Harper was removed from Thursday's game against the Nationals, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

It's unclear why Harper was taken out of the game, but it could have something to do with the baseball that hit him in the face after taking a strange bounce off first base in the fourth inning. More information on Harper's status should come soon, but for now he should be considered day-to-day.

Harper is in Monday's lineup at designated hitter as he deals with some general body soreness, but he is expected to play first base Tuesday in Miami, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper has six games at first base under his belt, all in the last 10 days, but he will DH Monday for the second day in a row. He is hitting .310 with two home runs and two steals in 23 July games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.

Harper tied the game 2-2 in the sixth inning with a solo homer off Kyle Gibson, his fifth of the year and just his second since May 26 -- a span of 48 games. Harper would later tally the tying run in the bottom of the ninth after singling and coming around to score on Bryson Stott's double. While he hasn't been hitting for much power, the 30-year-old Harper has been productive at the plate, going 15-for-44 (.341) with a .965 OPS over his last 13 games. Overall, he's slashing .296/.388/.419 with 42 runs scored, 29 RBI and seven steals across 294 plate appearances this season.

Harper is making his first professional start at first base Friday as the Phillies take on the Guardians, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper has been working out at first base for a while now and is finally ready to try his luck at the position in a game setting. If he proves capable of handling first base regularly, it opens up designated hitter for Kyle Schwarber and allows the Phillies to improve their defense in left field.

Harper will again serve as the Phillies' designated hitter Tuesday against the Brewers.

Harper's debut at first base has appeared imminent for a couple of weeks now, but the Phillies will hold off on that idea a little while longer. The 30-year-old has slashed .300/.395/.426 with four homers and six steals in 60 games this year, all out of the DH spot.

Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in a 9-4 win over the Padres during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The 30-year-old was only used as a pinch hitter in the matinee with Blake Snell on the mound for San Diego, but Harper was back at DH for the nightcap and took Ryan Weathers deep in the fourth inning. The blast snapped a career-worst homer drought for Harper that had lasted 166 plate appearances, and he now has four long balls and six steals in 59 games on the season to go along with his still-solid .298/.395/.422 slash line.

Harper will be on the bench for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Padres.

Harper reportedly could play first base at some point this weekend, taking the field for the first time since April 16 of last year. For now, he won't be playing anywhere, with the Phillies seemingly not wanting to tax his surgically-repaired elbow by asking him to play twice in one day. Kyle Schwarber will move to the designated hitter spot, with Brandon Marsh sliding to left field and Johan Rojas set for his big-league debut in center.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Friday that Harper could play first base "possibly" as soon as this weekend, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper is at designated hitter Friday against the Padres, but it sounds like he could be at first base during Saturday's doubleheader or Sunday. It would be the first start he's made at the position as a pro, as the Phillies have opted to ease him back to field action there rather than right field following last year's Tommy John surgery. Harper missed the final game before the All-Star break after being hit on his surgically repaired elbow by a pitch, but tests came back clean and he's fine.

Harper (elbow) is starting as Philadelphia's designated hitter Friday against San Diego.

Harper missed the final game before the All-Star break due to right elbow soreness, but he'll return to the Phillies' lineup after an extended rest period. Harper slashed .290/.386/.400 while racking up 23 RBI over 243 plate appearances during the first half of the season.

Harper (elbow), who is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, could be available to hit off the bench, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper is sitting out the Phillies' final game before the All-Star break after he was hit on his surgically repaired right elbow during Saturday's loss to Miami, but he's apparently dealing with nothing more than soreness after X-rays returned negative. The Phillies will most likely stay away from Harper if they can help it Sunday, affording him a full five days off to rest before the team opens up its post-break schedule Friday versus the Padres. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the injury scare hasn't deterred the Phillies from getting Harper some exposure to first base at some point during the second half of the season. He's made all 56 of his starts to date as a designated hitter.

Harper (elbow) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

The 30-year-old was hit by a pitch in the right elbow Saturday and won't play in Philadelphia's final game before the All-Star break, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury as X-rays came back negative. Harper had an underwhelming first half in his return from Tommy John surgery, finishing with a .786 OPS and just three homers in 56 games. He'll have a nearly a full week to rest up his elbow ahead of Friday's matchup with the Padres.

X-rays on Harper's right elbow returned negative, and he is only dealing with soreness after exiting Saturday's game against the Marlins, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was hit by a pitch and was ultimately pulled from the game shortly after. The issue doesn't appear to be serious, though the team could opt to hold him out Sunday to get him an extra day of rest heading into the All-Star break.

Harper was removed from Saturday's game against Miami after getting hit by a pitch, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper took a pitch to his right elbow -- the same elbow he underwent Tommy John surgery on during the offseason -- and initially remained in the game to run the bases before being replaced ahead of his next at-bat. The Phillies will take a look at Harper and provide more updates relatively soon, but he should be considered day-to-day for the time being.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson suggested Friday that Harper could see action at first base before the All-Star break, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper has been a DH-only player for the Phillies in the first half of the 2023 season following a swifter-than-expected recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he's been doing pregame work at first base for a while now and is about ready to make it a real thing in live games. The 30-year-old two-time NL MVP has never made a start at first base at any level of pro ball, but putting him there will greatly help Thomson's game-to-game lineup construction.

Harper is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Oakland.

Harper has four multi-hit efforts in the past seven games but will take a seat for the first time in June. The 30-year-old has an .812 OPS through 40 games this season but has just three homers, and it's been 92 plate appearances since he last went deep May 25 in Atlanta. Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter Sunday while Cristian Pache starts in left field.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a walk, two RBI, a run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 15-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Harper notched his second multi-hit effort and his second steal over his last three games. He has four RBI in the span and seven RBI over his last eight games. Harper has been making consistent contact at the dish but has clubbed just three home runs in 36 games with his last one coming May 25. For the year, he's slashing .299/.396/.440 with 13 extra-base hits, 15 RBI, 25 runs, five steals and a 23:37 BB:K over 159 plate appearances.

Harper went 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers.

Harper reached safely in all four plate appearances Sunday and has 22 walks through his first 34 games. The veteran's 2023 campaign was delayed while working his way back from Tommy John surgery that cost him the end of 2022, but he's been sharp since making his season debut, slashing .287/.382/.434 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 23 runs scored and four stolen bases.

Harper is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Mets.

This could just be a planned day of physical and mental rest for Harper, who went hitless (but drew three walks) over the final three games of the Phillies' four-game weekend series at Atlanta. Kyle Schwarber will take a turn out of the DH spot Tuesday in Queens and Dalton Guthrie will cover left field.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters prior to their game against Atlanta on Friday that Harper (elbow) is unlikely to play first base until after the All-Star break, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper has increased is throwing up to 120 feet, but as Seidman notes the Phillies are being cautious with the left-handed slugger. Since coming off the injured list Harper has hit an impressive .347/.437/.547 with three homers and two stolen bases, and fantasy GMs will continue to get his bat in the lineup everyday. He just won't gain a new position of eligibility until the end of July at the earliest.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run in Thursday's loss to Atlanta.

Harper smashed a big 445-foot solo blast in the fifth inning to tie the score 4-4. It snapped a 10-game skid without a long ball for the slugger and marked just his second RBI over his past 11 games. Despite the recent lack of production, Harper has put up an excellent .347/.437/.547 slash line on the campaign.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Friday that it will be at least another month before Harper (elbow) plays first base, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper continues to throw on the side and will soon increase the distance of those workouts to 90 feet, but the Phillies can be expected to slow-play this situation given that the 30-year-old slugger returned far earlier than anticipated from Tommy John surgery. He's slashed .314/.386/.490 with two home runs through 13 games out of the DH spot since being activated May 2.

Harper went 1-for-4 with one run scored and one steal in Wednesday's loss to San Francisco.

Harper and Nick Castellanos pulled off a double steal in the fourth inning. Harper stole a career-high 21 bases back in 2016. Despite the late start to 2023, Harper could push for 20 steals again, as he already has two in 13 games.

Harper was ejected from Sunday's game against the Rockies, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Colorado reliever Jake Bird appeared to chirp toward the Philadelphia dugout after recording the final out of the seventh inning, and Harper was the first player onto the field as benches cleared, resulting in the ejections of both players. The veteran slugger went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts prior to the ejection.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double, a walk and two total runs scored in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Rockies.

Harper's strung together a trio of multi-hit efforts, and this was his second game in a row with multiple RBI. The 30-year-old is batting .361 with a 1.050 OPS, two homers, five RBI, 11 runs scored, a stolen base and three doubles across 41 plate appearances. The hot hitting should keep him right in the heart of the Phillies' order.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run double, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rockies.

Harper put the Phillies on his back in the eighth inning. He knocked a two-run double to give them a lead, then stole third and scored when Elias Diaz's throw was errant. With four multi-hit efforts through eight games, there's little to reason to doubt Harper's bat since he returned from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old is slashing .344/.417/.500 with a home run, three RBI, nine runs scored and two doubles through 36 plate appearances, and his steal was his first of the season.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Red Sox.

Harper connected on his first long ball of the campaign in the fifth inning, swatting a 396-foot solo shot to left-center field. It hasn't taken long for the star slugger to get his feet under him after opening the season on the injured list following Tommy John surgery last November. Through four games since his return, Harper is slashing .375/.444/.525 with three runs, two walks and two extra-base hits.

Harper went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-6 loss against the Dodgers.

After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Tuesday in his first game back from Tommy John surgery, Harper seemed back to his old self Wednesday, reaching base safely five times with three hits, including a double, and two walks. Harper figures to see regular time at DH before eventually transitioning to first base. He slashed .286/.364/.514 with 18 home runs in 99 games last season with the Phillies.

Harper (elbow) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his season debut Tuesday in a 13-1 loss to the Dodgers.

While Harper made an incredibly fast recovery from Tommy John surgery, a season debut like this one shows it's best to temper expectations with the 30-year-old for now. Harper will be limited to designated hitter initially, and he's expected to play at first base once he's cleared to throw with his surgically repaired right elbow. Fantasy managers will want to have him active quickly -- this is a player who slashed .286/.364/.514 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI, 63 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and 28 doubles over 99 games in an injury-plagued 2022 campaign.

Harper was activated Tuesday from the 10-day injured list.

As anticipated, Harper will make his 2023 debut as the Phillies' designated hitter Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, less than six months after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow. It's an incredibly swift return from that procedure and Harper might need regular days off out of the gate, but his return is worth celebrating and arrives as excellent news for fantasy managers who got him at a value this spring. The 30-year-old slugger has delivered a .940 OPS across his first four seasons with Philadelphia while averaging 36 home runs, 105 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 108 runs scored for every 162 games played.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters before Monday's game that Harper will be in the lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Thomson said that they wanted to give Harper a day because of a hectic schedule that included a doctor's appointment, but he will be able to play in his first game of 2023 after recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. There's a chance that the Phillies could give the two-time MVP some days off in the early portion of his return since there was minimal rehab, but there's plenty of reason to think Harper will be a big-time fantasy contributor the moment he steps into the box against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Harper (elbow) has been cleared to return to the Phillies' lineup Tuesday versus the Dodgers, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Harper visited with Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- the physician who performed his Tommy John surgery in November -- on Monday and was officially given the go-ahead to return as Philadelphia's designated hitter. It's a remarkably quick return, as Harper had initially been projected to be out until around the All-Star break. Harper has been working out at first base in the event the Phillies want to ease him into the field there, although it's going to be a while before he's anything other than a DH. While Harper's bat could be a little rusty following a long layoff and no rehab assignment, fantasy managers and the Phillies will certainly welcome the slugger back into their lineups.

Harper (elbow) will see a doctor Monday morning and expects to return to the Phillies' lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers if he's cleared, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper underwent Tommy John surgery last November and was initially targeting a return around the All-Star break, but if he's cleared to suit up Tuesday, he'd beat that projection by over two months. The 30-year-old would serve exclusively as a designated hitter upon his return, but his clearance would provide a significant boost to the Phillies' lineup. He hit .286 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI, 63 runs and 11 stolen bases over 99 games last year.

Harper (elbow) hit on the field with his Phillies teammates Friday in Houston, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper will do that again Sunday ahead of what will be a crucial follow-up appointment with Dr. Neal ElAttrache early next week in Los Angeles. ElAttrache performed Tommy John surgery on Harper last November and current the belief is that the 30-year-old slugger might be cleared to return as the Phillies' designated hitter as early as next weekend if all parties involved feel it's a safe idea. The initial expectation -- at the time of the reconstructive elbow procedure -- is that Harper would be sidelined until the All-Star break.

Harper (elbow) could return at designated hitter for the Phillies as soon as the first weekend of May, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper will be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- who performed his Tommy John surgery last November -- in Los Angeles while the Phillies are there for a May 1-3 series against the Dodgers. The team is expected to allow Harper to skip a rehab assignment, so he could return shortly after the doctor visit if he gets the green light. "If we get clearance from the doctor, then we'll see when he can start DHing," manager Rob Thomson said Thursday. "But it shouldn't be too far after that." Harper played catch Thursday and has been working out at first base with the thought that he might be able to play that position sooner than right field. He's likely to be a DH only for a while, though, and he is currently able to swing a bat without restrictions. The last potential hurdle to being able to DH is full-intensity slides, including dives back into first base on a pickoff attempt, because the elbow is at risk of rupturing for a certain period of time after surgery. Harper returning in early May or shortly after would

Harper (elbow) made throws from 60 feet Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper also took live batting practice Thursday and incorporated the pitch clock for the first time. One of his BP homers nearly hit the screen displaying the count well beyond the center field fence at Citizens Bank Park. There's still no exact timetable, but Harper continues to push toward a swift return from Tommy John surgery. He's learning first base along the way.

Harper (elbow) is scheduled to take live batting practice against Ranger Suarez (forearm) on Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

It will be the first time Harper faces a left-hander in his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery. He took at-bats against right-hander Nick Nelson (hamstring) over the weekend. Harper still has a lot of hurdles to clear and there is no exact timetable, but recent reports suggest that he might be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment and jump back onto the Phillies' active roster before June.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters Saturday that Harper (elbow) may not take part in a rehab assignment in the minor leagues, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper echoed those sentiments in a conversation with Lauber, noting that he believes he can get his timing down without necessarily reporting to the minors. The two-time MVP is working back from Tommy John surgery, and it's been recently reported that he'll work at first base in an attempt to get on the field quickly. Whether Harper goes on a rehab assignment or not it seems likely that the 30-year-old star will be back with the Phillies and helping fantasy teams in the summer months as long as there are not setbacks.

Harper (elbow) will learn first base in an attempt to return to the field sooner, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

With Rhys Hoskins out for the season and Darick Hall slated to miss at least two months, putting Harper at first base would be very beneficial in solving the Phillies' depth issues at first. However, Harper's new position doesn't affect his timetable for returning to Philadelphia's lineup, as he will be cleared to serve as Philly's designated hitter before getting cleared to throw and play in the outfield.

Harper (elbow) took grounders and performed modified sliding drills Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper also continues to move through a hitting progression that now includes high-velocity batting cage work. The biggest concern right now for the Phillies is that Harper might rupture his surgically-repaired UCL on a slide, and so they're drawing up ways to prevent that. The superstar slugger has a followup appointment later this month with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his Tommy John surgery last November. The current belief is that he might be able to return to MLB competition sometime in late May.

Harper (elbow) took batting practice on the field before Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Gelb reports.

It's a positive step for Harper as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery he underwent in November. Gelb cautions there's still obstacles in the 31-year-old's way, as he has yet to be cleared to slide into bases with doctors believing there is a risk of rupturing the elbow reconstruction with certain slides. Harper could be back for the Phillies as soon as the end of May, but there are still hurdles for the two-time MVP to climb.

Manager Rob Thomson said during Sunday's ESPN broadcast that Harper (elbow) could resume hitting on the field as early as Thursday, John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper has spent the last few months recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in November, but he's trended in the right direction over the last several weeks. If Harper feels good after hitting on the field, he'll eventually progress to live arm at-bats before potentially embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 31-year-old still has some steps to clear before he's in the mix to make his season debut for the Phillies, but Thomson said Harper has been doing "really well" in his recovery.

Harper (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Harper has managed to avoid a 60-day IL placement for the time being with the Phillies hoping that he might be able to return from Tommy John surgery sometime in May. He recently advanced to soft-toss work in his rehab program.

Harper (elbow) will not be placed on the 60-day injured list yet by the Phillies, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told WIP-FM in an interview Tuesday, per Destiny Lugardo of PhilliesNation.com.

"We're going to keep our options open," Dombrowski said. Not placing Harper on the 60-day IL initially at least leaves open the possibility that he could return before the end of May. That would be quite a change of timetable from what the slugger reference just 12 days ago when he told the Associated Press that the All-Star break is "the date we kind of solidified." Ultimately, the Phillies could still wind up putting Harper on the 60-day IL if it becomes clear he won't be ready within that window. Still, this news at least offers the hope that a return much sooner than that is possible.

Harper (elbow) hit soft toss Thursday in Phillies camp, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It's another step forward for Harper, who had been limited to tee work since he arrived at the Phillies' spring training complex earlier this month. On the mend from Tommy John and ulnar nerve transposition surgery, the 30-year-old slugger is expected to be ready to return at DH for the reigning NL champs just prior to the All-Star break.

Harper (elbow) hit off a tee for the first time Thursday in Phillies camp, Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The workout came right after a followup physical, which apparently showed an encouraging degree of healing in Harper's surgically-repaired right elbow. The 30-year-old slugger had been limited to dry swings so far in his rehab progression before taking this meaningful step forward. Throwing, and thus playing the outfield, could remain an issue throughout all of 2023, but Harper is on track to return offensively from Tommy John surgery around the middle of the upcoming season.

Harper (elbow) said Thursday that he has no idea whether he'll be ready to play right field at some point this season, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.

Harper has reported to the Phillies' spring training complex and is set to undergo a physical. Based on those results, he expects to have a better idea on a timeline for his return to the Phillies' lineup. Harper underwent Tommy John surgery in November and the initial rough timetable projected him to be back as a designated hitter shortly before the All-Star break. That same timetable had him hopefully playing the outfield at some point in the second half, but it sounds as if that's not a slam dunk. For fantasy purposes, Harper will not have outfield eligibility initially in 2023 and it appears there's a chance that could carry over into 2024. A clearer picture will be available following the slugger's physical.

Harper (elbow) has progressed to taking dry swings as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Harper's rehab is going "great" and he expects the slugger to join the team in camp by March 8 or 9. He's obviously got a long way to go and many hoops to jump through in his recovery, but the hope is that Harper can return as a designated hitter before the All-Star break and as an outfielder at some point in the second half.

Harper underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper was expected to require a procedure, but it wasn't clear whether he'd require Tommy John surgery. He'll have a shorter recovery timetable than pitchers who undergo the procedure, but he's expected to be sidelined for the start of the 2023 season. The Phillies hope he'll be able to resume hitting competitively by mid-May, and he'll likely be forced to serve exclusively as a designated hitter until 2024.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday that Harper is scheduled to undergo elbow surgery Nov. 23, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Dombrowski said he's still unsure whether Harper will require Tommy John surgery or another type of procedure to repair the torn UCL in his right elbow, as a determination on that front won't be known until Harper's surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, has a chance to evaluate the injury and provide a recommendation. Regardless of what kind of surgery Harper requires, Dombrowski said he doesn't expect it to "slow him down" ahead of the 2023 campaign. Even if that's the case, Harper could still be limited strictly to designated-hitter duties early on during the upcoming season, and a potential Tommy John surgery would likely prevent the 30-year-old from playing the outfield until 2024. A more precise timeline for Harper's return to baseball activities won't be known until the surgery is completed next week.

Harper is expected to undergo an MRI later this week that will determine whether or not he'll require offseason surgery to address the torn UCL in his right elbow that he played through for most of the 2022 season, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The torn UCL first cropped up in mid-April and limited the lefty-hitting Harper to serving exclusively as a designated hitter the rest of the season, after the injury to his throwing elbow didn't respond well enough to platelet-rich plasma injections to allow the 30-year-old to resume duties in the outfield. Harper also missed considerable time after undergoing surgery in late June to repair a fractured thumb and struggled down the stretch in the regular season when he was activated from the injured list in late August, but the reigning National League MVP finally appeared to return to elite form at the plate during the Phillies' run to the World Series. At this point, neither the elbow or thumb injuries look to be anything that will affect the Harper at the dish heading into 2023, but the Phillies would ideally like to have him available to play in the outfield on a more frequent basis during the upcoming season while deploying either Kyle Schwarber or Nick Castellanos more frequently at DH. Harper's upcomin

Harper went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base during Wednesday's 5-0 loss to the Astros in Game 5 of the World Series.

Harper had a quiet night offensively, as did the rest of the Philadelphia offense, but he was able to steal second off pitcher Cristian Javier and catcher Christian Vasquez in the second inning. The steal marked his 12th of the season in 16 attempts and his first of the postseason. The 30-year-old will look to get back in the hit column Thursday night during the crucial Game 5 in the 2-2 series. Harper is slated to face righty Justin Verlander in Game 5 -- he is 3-for-8 lifetime against Verlander.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during Tuesday's 7-0 win over the Astros in Game 3 of the World Series.

Harper started the Phillies' barrage of home runs, hitting a Lance McCullers curveball deep into the bleachers for a two-run homer to make the score 2-0 in the first inning. The 30-year-old lost an 11-game hit streak after going 0-for-4 in Game 2, but he bounced back with his sixth homer and 12th extra-base hit of the postseason. Harper is now hitting .382 across 55 at bats in what has been his best postseason by far -- to put things into perspective, he has 21 hits in the 2022 playoffs, and his previous high across four other postseasons was five hits. Harper will look to stay hot against projected starter Christian Javier in Game 4 of the World Series.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk during Sunday's 4-3 win over the Padres in Game 5 of the NLCS.

Harper came to the plate after a leadoff single by J.T. Realmuto in the bottom of the eighth inning, and he sent a Robert Suarez sinker into the left field seats, igniting the crowd and putting the Phillies ahead 4-3. The 30-year-old lefty came into Game 5 with 10 extra-base hits in the postseason, a career high, and he added another in one of the most clutch hits of his career. Harper earned the NLCS MVP award by completing the series with a .400 average, three doubles, two homers and five RBI. He will take his red-hot bat into the World Series to face the Astros.

Harper went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI during Saturday's 10-6 win over the Padres in Game 4 of the NLCS.

Harper continued his incredible postseason at the plate Saturday, slamming his ninth and tenth extra-base hits of the playoffs and reaching nine RBI. The 30-year-old knocked Phillies starter Bailey Falter from the game with an RBI double in the first, and knocked reliever Sean Manaea from the game with an RBI double in the fifth that gave the Phillies a 7-6 lead. Harper had never batted over .294 in the postseason, but he is now hitting .410 over 39 plate appearances with a career high 10 extra-base hits. Harper is slated to face Yu Darvish in Game 5, who he has tagged for two homers in nine at bats for his career.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Padres in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Harper took Padres starter Yu Darvish deep to left field in the fourth inning for the game's first run. His homer proved to be all the Phillies needed as their pitching staff completed a shutout Tuesday night. The 30-year-old lefty continued his torrid pace in the 2022 postseason with his fourth home run and seventh extra-base hit in just seven games, extending his hitting streak to six games. Prior to the postseason, Harper only hit three home runs in all of September and October, but his power surge is coming at the perfect time for the Phillies.

Harper isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Houston.

Harper is resting for Wednesday's regular-season finale after he went 3-for-12 with an RBI and three strikeouts over the last three games. J.T. Realmuto will serve as the designated hitter and bat third.

Harper went 3-for-4 in Thursday's loss to the Cubs.

Harper recently went through a 1-for-16 stretch over five games but has broken out of it with five knocks in his last three contests. In addition, the outfielder has tallied seven RBI during his last six games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against the Cubs.

Harper provided all the offense for the Phillies Tuesday with an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning. He also led off the ninth inning with a base hit but was quickly erased after JT Realmuto grounded into a fielder's choice. The two-hit effort comes as he was just 1-for-16 with seven strikeouts in his previous five games. He is slashing .292/.371/.540 through 391 plate appearances this season.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's victory over the Marlins.

With the Phillies down 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Harper took a 3-2 changeup from Edward Cabrera 404 feet to left center for his 17th long ball of the season. The homer was his second in the month of September, during which he is batting .194 with four RBI and six runs scored. The homer Wednesday coincides with a modest four-game hitting streak, as he looks to finish the season strong and record his ninth career 20 homer season.

Harper went 1-for-4 with one homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Nationals.

Harper blasted a two-run homer off righty starter Erick Fedde to tie the game with two outs in the third. The outfielder has been slumping in his last seven games, slashing .160/.276/.320 over 29 plate appearances. The 29-year-old has been better on the road this season, recording a 1.035 OPS in 170 plate appearances compared to a .861 OPS in 160 plate appearances at home.

Harper is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Nationals

Harper will sit on the bench Friday as the Nationals will begin the game with lefty Patrick Corbin on the mound. Alec Bohm will take over as Washington's designated hitter causing Edmundo Sosa to pick up a start at third base.

Harper went 3-for-4 with two walks, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 18-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Every Phillie in the starting lineup recorded at least two hits in the massively lopsided contest. Harper led the way by getting on base five times, though he wasn't as directly involved in run production. The 29-year-old hasn't missed a beat since returning from a broken thumb, going 8-for-21 (.381) with two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored in six games since he was activated. He's up to a .323/.395/.589 slash line with 15 home runs, 52 RBI, 52 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 70 contests overall.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in Friday's 7-4 win over the Pirates.

Harper ripped a two-run single as part of the Phillies' four-run first inning. It was his first game in two months since a lengthy stint on the injured list with a thumb injury. He's now slashing .317/.384/.593 with 50 RBI and 37 extra-base hits through 65 games on the year.

Harper (thumb) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday and will bat cleanup while serving as the designated hitter Friday against the Pirates, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper hasn't played in two months after fracturing his left thumb when a pitch hit his hand, but he's ready to go after just a pair of rehab games. He could hardly have done more to show he was ready in those two contests, as he went 5-for-8 with two homers and two doubles. He was having an excellent year prior to the injury, slashing .318/.385/.599 with 15 homers in 64 games, and he'll hope to continue that form down the stretch as the Phillies look to end the league's second-longest playoff drought.

Harper (thumb) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper isn't playing at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, but he'll work out and will ultimately be activated by the Phillies ahead of Friday's series opener against the Pirates. The 29-year-old performed well over two games during his rehab assignment, going 5-for-8 with two home runs, two doubles, six RBI and three runs. Harper is unlikely to play in the outfield down the stretch, but he'll serve as the Phillies' everyday designated hitter once he's activated.

The Phillies could activate Harper (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Thursday or Friday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

When Harper was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the expectation was that he would remain in the minors through the weekend while working to regain his timing at the plate following a two-month layoff from game action. However, he's looked more than ready to rejoin the Phillies based on how he's performed in his first two games at Lehigh Valley, as he's produced four extra-base hits (two home runs and two doubles) while striking out just once in 10 plate appearances. Since the Phillies have already seemed to rule out the possibility of Harper playing the outfield this season after he recently ended his throwing program when he experienced soreness in his sprained right elbow, the 29-year-old likely won't get much benefit from playing full games in the minors now that he's seemingly already dialed in at the plate. His potential return in the next day or two would provide a major lift for a Phillies squad that currently has a hold on one of the National League's three avail

Harper (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper is expected to appear in Triple-A games through Saturday before resting Sunday. If he feels good throughout his rehab assignment, it's possible that he'll be cleared to rejoin the Phillies as early as Aug. 29, when the team begins a three-game series in Arizona.

Harper (thumb) remains on schedule to begin a rehab assignment sometime next week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

He took batting practice again Friday and it went well, so everything is still going according to plan. Harper is recovering from a torn ligament in his right elbow in addition to a fractured thumb, and he's expected to return to the big-league lineup as the designated hitter around Sept. 1.

The Phillies transferred Harper (thumb) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.

Harper isn't dealing with any setback in his recovery from the surgery he underwent in late June for his fractured left thumb, but since he wasn't on track to return to the lineup at this time next week when he would have spent a full two months on the shelf, the Phillies opted to move him to the 60-day IL to open up a 40-man roster spot for waiver pickup Bradley Zimmer. Though Harper recently had his throwing program shut down and appears unlikely to be ready to play the outfield again this season while recovering from a torn ligament in his right elbow, he's still on track to rejoin the Phillies as a full-time designated hitter, likely in early September. He's scheduled to take another round of batting practice at some point this weekend, and if all goes well, he could head out on a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as next Tuesday.

Harper (thumb) took a round of batting practice Wednesday and will do so again later this week before potentially beginning a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Interim manager Rob Thomson said that if Harper's surgically repaired left thumb checks out fine following the two rounds of BP, the reigning National League MVP will likely report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to resume game action. Before landing on the IL on June 26, Harper had been serving exclusively as a designated hitter for Philadelphia since mid-April due to a torn ligament in his right elbow. Despite having ample time off to heal, Harper doesn't look on track to play the outfield again in 2022, as he had his throwing program tabled earlier this month when he experienced some stiffness in the elbow. The playoff-hopeful Phillies would still obviously welcome Harper back in an offense-only role, and though an official timeline for his return hasn't been established, club officials told Lauber that the 29-year-old is expected to be activated on or around Sept. 1 if he remains free of setbacks over the next couple of weeks.

Harper (thumb) took 60 swings Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

A few of Harper's cuts came against a pitching machine, but of greater import were the swings he got in against a pitcher -- the first he has taken since undergoing surgery on his injured thumb. Harper is scheduled to get in a similar session Wednesday, and barring any setbacks he could be ready for a rehab assignment shortly after. Interim manager Rob Thomson indicated that is unlikely to begin this weekend, but it could at some point next week.

Harper (thumb) will take batting practice on the field Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper has not gotten in any cuts in an open setting since undergoing surgery on his left thumb, but he is set to do just that Monday. According to interim manager Rob Thomson, Harper is "progressing well" and is "getting closer to minor-league games.'

Harper has not regained as much flexibility in his thumb as anticipated and is not yet ready to face pitchers, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The last couple updates on Harper's status were relatively positive, but the latest one is not as much, as in addition to waiting to get back into the batter's box he is also having his throwing program cut back due to "some stiffness." While things not be progressing entirely as hoped with Harper's recovery, interim manager Rob Thomson remains optimistic, saying there is "no doubt" Harper will return at some point this season.

Harper (thumb) said Thursday that he hopes to return from the injured list sometime in September, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper has been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a fractured left thumb in late June, and he's been hesitant to indicate a return timetable so far. The 29-year-old had his pins removed from his left thumb Monday, but he'll likely require at least a month to ramp up before he's in consideration to rejoin the Phillies. While it's slightly encouraging that Harper hasn't been moved to the 60-day IL, he seems to be taking a cautious approach to his recovery in hopes of avoiding any setbacks upon his return.

Harper had his pins removed from his left thumb Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper underwent surgery to repair a fractured left thumb in late June, but he'll be able to begin his ramp-up process now that his pins have been removed. The 29-year-old will likely require a few weeks before he's cleared to return to game action, but it's possible that he'll be able to return sometime in mid-to-late August.

Harper wasn't cleared Monday to have pins removed from his surgically repaired left thumb and will be re-evaluated in one week, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper will meet with his surgeon next Monday with the hope that he's shown enough healing from the procedure to have the pins removed. If that ends up being the case, Harper could be cleared to resume light baseball activities, but the reigning National League MVP still looks to be several weeks away from returning from the 10-day injured list. The fact that the Phillies haven't yet moved Harper to the 60-day IL keeps a return before the final week of August in play.

Harper (thumb) said Tuesday that he intends to play again this season, but he was unwilling to commit to a timeline for his return from the 10-day injured list, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. "I don't want to hope or think about anything," Harper said. "I just want to go day by day and be back when I can, whenever I feel healthy, whenever that is, to help this team win. If we're in [playoff contention], if we're out of it, I'm going to come back and play no matter what, just so I know that I can go out th

A late-season return already was expected to be in play for Harper after he underwent surgery last week and had three pins inserted into his fractured left thumb, but the 29-year-old's reluctance to commit to a target date for his return to game action could make it tougher for fantasy managers to continue stashing him during his prolonged absence. Shortly before he had surgery, multiple reports suggested Harper could be ready to play as soon as mid-August, but the reigning MVP merely said that he'll "be back when I need to" when pressed about a potential timeline for a return. Since Harper landed on the IL, Darick Hall has been summoned from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace him as Philadelphia's primary designated hitter.

Harper underwent surgery to repair his fractured left thumb Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 6-to-8 week timetable lines up with a previous report which indicated Harper could return in mid-August. Harper is already on the 10-day injured list after suffering the injury over the weekend, and it'll likely be a couple weeks before he can resume baseball activities. The 29-year-old was limited to serving as the designated hitter since mid-April due to a small tear in the UCL of his right elbow, and he'll now have some time to hopefully heal up from that injury.

Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said Harper will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair his fractured left thumb, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Thomson declined to put a timeline on Harper's recovery from surgery, but Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported earlier Tuesday that the two-time National League MVP could be back from the 10-day injured list in as few as six weeks. A mid-August return may be on the more ambitious side, however, and the possibility exists that the Phillies could delay activating Harper if the team finds itself out of contention by late summer. Before he fractured the thumb Sunday when it was hit by a pitch, Harper had been playing through a small tear in the UCL of his right (throwing) elbow, which had prevented him from playing the outfield since April 16. If there's a positive side to Harper being shut down following thumb surgery, it's that it'll afford him more time to heal from the elbow injury.

Harper will require surgery for his broken thumb but could return in six weeks, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch Saturday against San Diego. Previous reports indicated that he was tracking towards a return in late August, but Salisbury's report indicates he could return sometime in the first half of that month. A more precise idea of his return date should emerge once he's through surgery and begins ramping back up.

Harper is expected to undergo surgery to repair his fractured left thumb, but he plans to return during the 2022 season, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper had his thumb broken on a pitch by Blake Snell on Saturday and has already been placed on the 10-day injured list. Though surgery will set back his timetable, Lauber reports that Harper hopes to return by the end of August. In Harper's absence, Nick Castellanos is expected to serve as the team's primary designated hitter, with Odubel Herrera, Matt Vierling and Mickey Moniak combining to cover center and right field.

Harper (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Harper suffered a fractured left thumb Saturday when he was struck by a 97-mph fastball, and his move to the injured list was inevitable. The Phillies have yet to provide a timeline for his return, but for the time being the reigning NL MVP should be considered out indefinitely. Mickey Moniak was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. With Harper out, Nick Castellanos is likely to operate as Philadelphia's primary designated hitter, leaving Odubel Herrera, Matt Vierling and Moniak to split time between center and right field.

Harper suffered a fractured left thumb in Saturday's game against San Diego after getting hit in his left hand by a pitch in the fourth inning, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

He'll undergo further examination in coming days, but he's likely going to miss a significant amount of time.

Harper left Saturday's game against San Diego in the fourth inning after getting hit in his left hand by a pitch, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper was in serious pain after taking a 97-mph pitch directly on his hand. It looks like it could be a serious injury, but we'll know more after he is examined.

Harper will have his elbow re-evaluated next week, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper has served as the designated hitter for most of the season and exclusively since April 17. He has missed time periodically, but the issue hasn't stopped him from hitting .326/.392/.618 across 265 plate appearances on the campaign. If the evaluation reveals sufficient healing, Harper could begin a throwing program in the hopes of ultimately returning to right field.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Rangers.

After sitting out the last three games with a hand injury, Harper returned and demonstrated that his legs were still 100 percent. The 29-year-old is on his way to another MVP-caliber campaign, slashing .326/.392/.618 through 61 games with 15 homers, nine steals, 48 runs and 48 RBI.

Harper (hand) is starting Wednesday against the Rangers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper didn't appear in any of the last three games due to an infected blister on his left hand, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup during Wednesday's series finale against Texas. Over his last six games, he went 8-for-18 with two doubles, four runs, three RBI and a stolen base.

Harper (hand) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.

A UCL sprain in his throwing elbow has prevented Harper from playing in the outfield since April 16, but it's an infected blister on his left hand that will keep him from serving as the Phillies' designated hitter for the fourth game in a row. Alec Bohm will instead handle DH duties Tuesday while Harper receives additional maintenance coming out of Monday's team off day. Harper recently had antibiotic treatment for the infection and is considered day-to-day, but he'll need to show some meaningful progress in order to re-enter the lineup for Wednesday's series finale.

Harper (hand) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

He'll be sidelined for the third consecutive game overall and a second straight on account of a blister on his left hand. Harper received antibiotics to treat the blister, so he could be ready to rejoin the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers if his treatment has taken full effect by then.

Harper will sit Saturday against the Nationals due to an infected blister on his left hand, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row, as he sat for the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader. That may have been a scheduled game off, but Saturday's absence doesn't seem to have been planned. The issue apparently flared up overnight, so Harper will sit for at least one game while taking antibiotics to treat the issue. The Phillies have an off day Monday, so it's possible he sits Sunday as well in order to get three straight days to heal. Nick Castellanos will take his designated hitter spot while Matt Vierling starts in right field.

Harper isn't starting in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Harper was productive in the first game of Friday's twin bill, as he went 3-for-4 with two runs and a walk. However, Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter while Matt Vierling starts in left field during the nightcap.

Harper went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one steal in Saturday's win over Arizona.

Harper continued a torrid start to June with his third multi-hit affair in a row. The lefty outfielder has a hit in seven of eight games this month, giving him a stellar .433/.486/.967 slash line in June. Harper also picked up a steal in Saturday's game, his seventh of the year and his first since May 11.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's victory over Arizona.

After his three-hit effort on Friday, Harper brought his hit streak to five games. He's been productive in June, picking up a hit in six of seven games, including four with multiple hits, bringing his June batting average to .407 and his season average to .317.

Harper went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 10-0 victory over the Brewers.

Harper went deep for a three-run shot off Luke Barker with two outs in the ninth inning, driving in Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber. The homer was his 14th of the year and his fourth in the last five games. Since the beginning of May, Harper has batted .345 with 11 home runs, 30 RBI, 23 runs and three stolen bases over 113 at-bats in 29 games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and a walk in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Angels.

Harper launched his clutch homer to tie the game in the eighth inning. The lefty slugger enjoyed a terrific weekend against the visiting Angels, going 4-for-10 with three long balls, eight RBI and three walks. He raised his season slash line to .309/.370/.628 with 33 extra-base hits and 40 RBI through 48 games.

Harper (forearm) is starting Friday against the Angels.

Harper was removed from Wednesday's lineup due to right forearm soreness, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third following Thursday's scheduled off day. Over his last five games, he went 4-for-20 with a double, two runs, an RBI, four walks and four strikeouts.

Harper (forearm) is scheduled to receive additional treatment Thursday, and manager Joe Girardi hopes the reigning National League MVP will be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Angels, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to soreness in his right forearm, but the Phillies hope his absence will be limited to one game. The 29-year-old has been serving as Philadelphia's designated hitter while dealing with a sprained UCL in his right elbow, though he did miss a week in mid-May after receiving a PRP injection. Harper should be considered day-to-day heading into Thursday's scheduled off day.

Harper was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants due to right forearm soreness, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper has been able to serve as the Phillies' primary designated hitter in spite of a UCL sprain in his elbow, but he'll be removed from Wednesday's lineup due to a sore forearm. Alec Bohm will serve as the designated hitter while Bryson Stott enters the lineup at shortstop. It's not yet clear whether Harper will be available off the bench.

Harper went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run in Wednesday's loss to the Braves.

Harper singled in each of his first two at-bats before notching a double and scoring in the fifth frame. He added another double in the ninth inning and his four-hit effort was his ninth multi-hit game in his last 14 contests. Over that stretch, Harper has batted .458 with 16 extra-base hits including six homers, 13 runs, 16 RBI and three stolen bases. The dominant span has his season-long stats up to a .318 average with 10 long balls, 31 RBI, 31 runs and six stolen bases over 154 at-bats in 39 games this season.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.

He appeared to have given the Phillies the win with a two-run blast off Kenley Jansen in the top of the ninth inning, but Atlanta answered back in the bottom of the frame to walk it off. Harper continues to rake despite a UCL sprain in his elbow, and through 16 games in May he's slashing .364/.394/.803 with seven of his 10 homers on the year.

Harper (elbow) is starting Saturday against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper received a PRP injection last weekend to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow and was initially expected to keep him out of the lineup for one game, but he was ultimately sidelined for five straight matchups. However, he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third Saturday. Over the six games prior to his absence, the 29-year-old hit .609 with three homers, six doubles, eight runs, eight RBI and three stolen bases.

Harper (elbow) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old was initially expected to miss only one game after receiving a PRP injection last weekend to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow, but he'll now be sidelined for the fifth straight contest. Harper has been limited to serving as the designated hitter for most of the season due to the injury, though it hasn't affect his ability to hit given his .305/.361/.634 slash line with nine home runs, 27 RBI, 29 runs and six stolen bases. It's unclear when he may be able to rejoin the lineup, and for now he should be considered day-to-day.

Harper (elbow) remains on the bench Thursday against the Padres, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper has been limited to designated hitter due for almost the entirety of the season after spraining his right UCL early in the year, though you wouldn't know he'd been playing hurt just by looking at his numbers, as he's hitting .305/.361/.634 with nine homers and six steals on the year. He underwent a platelet-plasma injection over the weekend, however, which has kept him on the bench for now the fourth straight game. Reports from earlier in the week indicated that he was targeting a Thursday return, so it's unclear if he's suffered a setback or if he'll need just one more day.

Harper (elbow) isn't expected to be available to play right field until after the All-Star break after he was advised not to throw for six weeks upon receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection for his right elbow Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The six-week rest period would come to an end in early July, but since Harper would still need additional time after that to build up his throwing distance, the Phillies are preparing for him to be a full-time designated hitter for the remainder of the first half of the season. Perhaps no player has benefited more from the implementation of the universal designated hitter in 2022 than Harper, who likely would have gone on the injured list weeks ago if not for being available in a non-defensive role. Playing through the UCL sprain in his elbow hasn't hindered him at the plate, as Harper has maintained a .995 OPS through 147 plate appearances on the season. As a result of the recent PRP injection, Harper is still experiencing enough pain that he'll be out of the lineup Wednesday against the Padres for the third consecutive game, but the Phillies anticipate that he'll be ready to handle DH duties by the weekend, if not Thursday's series finale with San Diego.

Harper (elbow) isn't starting Wednesday against the Padres.

The Phillies were pessimistic about Harper's availability for Wednesday's matchup, and he'll officially be held out of the lineup for a third straight game after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection over the weekend. However, the team is hopeful that he'll be back in action for Thursday's series finale. Odubel Herrera, Roman Quinn and Nick Castellanos will start in the outfield from left to right while Kyle Schwarber serves as the designated hitter Wednesday.

Harper (elbow), who's out of the lineup Tuesday against the Padres, may miss Wednesday's game as well, but he hopes to return for Thursday's series finale, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper received a platelet-rich plasma injection to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow, an injury he's been able to play through as a designated hitter. He could wind up missing at least three days due to the shot, but a trip to the injured list doesn't appear to be on the table at this time.

Harper (elbow) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.

After receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection over the weekend for the UCL sprain in his right elbow that has kept him from playing the outfield since April 16, Harper will be on the bench for the second game in a row while he waits for the shot to take effect. The Phillies expect that Harper will feel well enough to resume designated-hitter duties within the next few days, though it's unclear if he'll get the green light to re-enter the lineup before the team's three-game series with the Padres ends Thursday.

Harper is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 29-year-old was scheduled to receive a PRP injection to alleviate the pain in his right elbow Sunday, so it's no surprise he's being held out of the lineup for the series finale in Los Angeles. Harper has been limited to serving as the designated hitter while playing through a small tear in his UCL, and he's not expected to resume playing the field until at least mid-June. The injury hasn't had any affect on his ability to hit, and he's currently riding a six-game hit streak during which he's gone 14-for-23 with three home runs, six doubles, eight RBI, eight runs and three stolen bases. Alec Bohm will serve as the designated hitter Sunday with Johan Camargo starting at the hot corner.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, double and an additional run during Saturday's 8-3 win over the Dodgers.

Harper continued to roll Saturday, doubling and scoring in the first inning. Connecting on a three-run homer in the fourth and tacking on a single in the eighth. 14 hits in his last six games have upped the 29-year-old's average from .241 to .305 as he's now top five in both slugging and OPS and appears to have finally adjusted to an assignment as Philadelphia's designated hitter for the foreseeable future.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two doubles, two walks, two runs and two RBI in a 12-10 victory over the Dodgers on Friday.

Harper was the driving force behind Friday's power surge, doubling in the third and sixth, walking in the fourth and tenth and homering in the eighth for his fourth multi-hit game in his last five. The 29-year-old has been scorching over the past week plus, going 15-for-32 with six doubles and four home runs to bump his slash line to .291/.350/.598.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Thursday's 9-7 victory versus the Dodgers.

It was announced Thursday that Harper has a small tear in his UCL and won't be able to play the field for the foreseeable future, but the injury didn't seem to affect him at the plate Thursday. The veteran put the Phillies on the board with a solo shot to right field in the first inning and drove in two more runs before the contest was over. Harper has enjoyed a strong start to the month of May, slashing .325/.349/.725 with four homers, four doubles, eight RBI and three stolen bases through 10 games.

Tests on Harper's elbow revealed a small tear in his UCL, and he will not throw for four weeks, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper has served exclusively as Philadelphia's designated hitter since April 17 and that will continue until at least the middle of June. The hope is that he will begin throwing at that time, and he'll also receive a PRP injection to help mitigate his pain Sunday. Though Harper will continue to remain in the lineup most days, the team has announced he will be out Sunday against the Dodgers and perhaps Tuesday to open Philadelphia's series against the Padres.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in Monday's 9-0 win over the Mariners.

While his teammates supplied the thunder, Harper focused on setting the table on a night when seven different Phillies had multi-hit performances. For his part, Harper has delivered multiple hits in three of the last four games, boosting his slash line on the season to .259/.315/.509 with six homers, four steals, 19 RBI and 23 runs through 29 contests.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored Thursday against the Mets.

Harper recorded an RBI double in the first inning to open the scoring. He then went yard in the fourth inning to record his fifth homer of the season. Entering Thursday's game, Harper has recorded only one hit across his last 19 at-bats, though he's still managed a .343 wOBA and 122 wRC+ across his first 111 plate appearances of the season.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Mets.

After teammate Kyle Schwarber touched Max Scherzer up twice, Harper followed suit in the sixth, his second career homer off Scherzer and fourth this season. Harper was serving as the designated hitter again, so clearly his elbow is still an issue, though it doesn't seem to be bothering him a whole lot at the plate.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and a stolen base in a 7-3 win Wednesday against Colorado.

Harper singled and stole a base in the first inning, tripled and scored in the third and singled and scored in the seventh. He has stolen bases in consecutive games and has three swipes on the season. With his triple, the 29-year-old has recorded an extra-base hit in five of his last six games. After a slow start to the season, he has raised his OPS to .850.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and a stolen base in a 10-3 win Tuesday over the Rockies.

Harper singled and stole second base in the first inning and doubled and scored in the sixth. It was the ninth consecutive game he served as the designated hitter as he continues to deal with an elbow injury. The two-time National League Most Valuable Player has recorded an extra-base hit in four of his last five games and is hitting .325/.349/.575 over his last 10 contests.

Harper (elbow) played catch Tuesday for the first time in a week and will exclusively play at designated hitter until at least May 3, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper hasn't played the outfield since April 16 due to the elbow injury, but he's still be in the lineup every game as the designated hitter. There's been no dip in production due to the injury, as the 29-year-old has an .870 OPS with two home runs, three doubles, six RBI and six runs in eight games since being limited to to DH duties. Nick Castellanos will continue to man right field until Harper is cleared to play defense.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 8-2 win over Colorado.

Making his eighth consecutive appearance as the Phillies' designated hitter, Harper launched a solo shot off Kyle Freeland in the fifth inning. He also scored a run in the third and knocked an RBI sacrifice fly in the seventh. The slugging lefty improved his slash line to .231/.297/.462 with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBI through 17 games.

Harper is scheduled to test out his lingering right elbow injury during a pregame throwing session Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper has yet to miss a game this season on account of the injury, but he's served as the Phillies' designated hitter in each of the past seven games as a result of the elbow issue. Even if Harper checks out well during his throwing session Tuesday, manager Joe Girardi has already said that it's doubtful the 29-year-old will reclaim his usual duties in right field this week. Instead, Harper is expected to gradually increase his throwing distance over a period of several days before the Phillies feel comfortable using him on defense. Aside from uncharacteristically drawing zero walks over his last seven starts at DH, Harper has continued to perform well from a fantasy perspective with a .300 average, four extra-base hits (one home run and three doubles), four RBI and four runs over that stretch. Despite Harper's injury, fantasy managers shouldn't have much hesitation about keeping him active while he likely picks up six or seven starts at DH during the Phillies' seven-game week.

Harper went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Friday's 4-2 win over the Brewers.

Harper got the Phillies on the board early with his RBI double off of Freddy Peralta in the first inning. He later scored on Alec Bohm's eighth-inning single. The reigning NL MVP has racked up 11 RBI and seven extra-base hits through 54 at-bats.

Harper is serving as the designated hitter and batting third in Friday's game against the Brewers.

Harper hasn't played in the field since Saturday as he deals with a sore elbow, but he'll remain in the lineup as a designated hitter for a fifth consecutive game. He recently underwent an MRI on his right elbow that revealed a minor strain, and he won't be able to throw until Tuesday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. While the 29-year-old would've required a trip to the injured list before the universal designated hitter was introduced, he should be able to continue playing through the injury as the DH.

Harper, who is batting second as the designated hitter Monday in Colorado, is nursing a sore right elbow and will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter during the three-game series against the Rockies this week, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old also served as the designated hitter Sunday against the Marlins, and it's unclear when he picked up the injury. Regardless, the injury doesn't affect Harper when batting, so far now he'll remain in the lineup without playing the field, which pushes Nick Castellanos to right field.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and two RBI in an 11-3 loss Sunday in Miami.

Harper singled in the third, hit a solo home run in the fifth and added a RBI double in the seventh. After starting the season 1-for-14, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player is 7-for-23 with five extra-base hits over his last six contests. Sunday was the second time he appeared as the designated hitter this season. Nick Castellanos started in right field in his stead.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored, two walks and a stolen base in Saturday's win over the Marlins.

It's not a secret that this hasn't been a good start to the season for the star outfielder, though this was clearly his best all-around performance of the campaign to date. Harper has yet to record more than one hit in a single game through nine contests in 2022, but he has six RBI, two extra-base hits, three runs scored and a 4:3 BB:K over his last four games, so he seems to be trending in the right direction.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Thursday against the Marlins.

Harper drove in his first run in the opening frame with a sacrifice fly. However, he did the majority of his damage in the seventh inning by doubling in two runners. Harper has yet to record a multi-hit performance this season, though he does have three extra-base hits and five RBI across seven starts.

Harper went 1-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Mets.

His ninth-inning shot off a 100 mph Edwin Diaz fastball, sent the other way down the left-field line to clank off the foul pole, didn't impact the final result but did give Harper his first homer of the year. The reigning NL MVP has had a bit of a slow start to 2022, but Harper is more than capable of going on a tear at the flip of a switch.

Harper will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and will bat third in Tuesday's game against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

With a career 1.017 OPS in 889 plate appearances in March or April, Harper has historically been at his best early in the season before injuries take their toll, but he's gotten off to a uncharacteristically slow start to 2022 despite being in optimal health. Through four games, Harper has generated one hit and two walks while striking out six times across 17 plate appearances. The strikeout rate is up, but in all likelihood, the hits will eventually start to fall in for Harper as the sample size increases. Fantasy managers should be heartened by the fact that he's still striking the ball with authority, as his Statcast-measured hard-hit rate and average exit velocity rank in the 97th and 93rd percentile in baseball, respectively.

Harper has crushed the ball this spring, hitting .346/.393/.846 with four homers in 10 games.

The only blemish on Harper's Grapefruit League line is a 42.9 percent strikeout rate, but he looks ready to go in every other way. Harper is coming off a season in which he won the NL MVP, hitting .309/.429/.615 with 35 homers and 13 steals. He should have even more chances for runs and RBI this season after the Phillies added Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber in free agency.

Harper was named the 2021 National League MVP on Thursday, Baseball Writers' Association of America reports.

Harper won the honors for the first time since 2015, and he becomes the fifth player in MLB history to be named MVP with multiple franchises, Sarah Langs of MLB.com reports. The 29-year-old received 17 of 30 first-place votes after he slashed .309/.429/.615 with 35 homers, 101 runs, 84 RBI and 13 stolen bases across 141 appearances in 2021.

Harper went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk Sunday in the Phillies' 5-4 loss to the Marlins.

Harper and the Phillies' rough series in Atlanta earlier this week eliminated the team from the playoff race, but the 28-year-old outfielder at least had a productive weekend to wrap up the season, going 5-for-10 with a home run and two doubles over the three games in Miami. The 2015 National League MVP should find himself as one of the frontrunners for the award once again this year, after he concluded the campaign with an MLB-best 1.044 OPS to go with 35 home runs, 101 runs, 84 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Pirates.

He pulverized a Wil Crowe offering in the third inning, putting it into the trees beyond the center-field fence for his 34th homer of the season. Harper's push for an MVP award continues -- over his last 33 games, he's slashing a mammoth .381/.507/.796 with 11 home runs and 30 RBI to help the Phillies stay in the playoff picture.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI in the Phillies' 5-3 win over the Mets on Saturday.

Harper has now doubled in five consecutive games to bring his total to 38 on the season, leaving him two shy of the Tigers' Jeimer Candelario and the Cardinals' Tommy Edman for the MLB lead. The 28-year-old is currently in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak, his longest as a member of the Phillies. With a 1.056 OPS to go with 33 home runs, 92 runs, 79 RBI and 13 steals, Harper is enjoying his best season since his 2015 National League MVP campaign with Washington. He remains a candidate to take home the hardware again in 2021, though the Padres' Fernando Tatis still looks like the favorite with two weeks left in the season.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored Thursday against the Cubs.

All of Harper's hits went for extra-bases, highlighted by a three-run homer in the seventh inning. It was his 33rd home run of the season and seventh of September. The recent hot stretch has allowed Harper to lock in the fifth 30-homer campaign of his career, and he could also tally 100 runs as his current total sits at 92.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 5-4 loss to Colorado.

The 28-year-old is in great form at the plate, riding a nine-game hitting streak with six homers, nine RBI and seven runs scored in that span. Harper's having his best season since 2017 with a .307/.421/.611 slash line, 32 homers, 72 RBI, 87 runs scored and 12 stolen bases through 518 plate appearances.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over Colorado.

The outfielder provided some insurance with his seventh-inning missile off Colorado reliever Tyler Kinley. Harper has swatted 15 of his 31 homers this season since the start of August, a span of just 38 contests. He's riding an eight-game hitting streak that has boosted his slash line to .307/.420/.606 with 71 RBI, 86 runs scored and 12 stolen bases through 121 games overall.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Harper's first-inning homer off Antonio Senzatela was his 30th of the season -- he's now reached the 30-homer mark four times in his career and in each of his last three full seasons. The outfielder has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 games and leads all qualified hitters in baseball with a 1.019 OPS.

Harper went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, two RBI and three walks in the loss to the Brewers on Wednesday.

The right fielder took Freddy Peralta deep in the first inning before drawing a bases-loaded walk in the third, driving in teammate Travis Jankowski. The home run marked his 29th blast of the season. He has now secured at least one hit in 13 of his last 14 contests while batting .392 with six home runs and 16 RBI over that stretch.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's 7-4 win over the Nationals.

The 28-year-old tormented his former club once again, taking Josiah Gray deep in the first inning to give the Phillies a lead they would never relinquish. Harper has hit safely in seven straight games, slashing a majestic .462/.516/1.000 over that stretch with five doubles and three of his 26 homers on the year.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double, two walks and a strikeout in Friday's 7-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

Harper doubled in the bottom of the first inning Friday, and he continued to display his power with his home run in the third frame. The 28-year-old has five extra-base hits in his last three games, and he's gone 6-for-10 with two homers, three doubles, six RBI and three runs during that time.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Wednesday against the Rays.

Harper took Shawn Armstrong yard in the fifth inning to record his 24th homer of the season. He now has three home runs in his last 10 games to go along with eight RBI and five runs scored. For the season, Harper has delivered an excellent .293/.412/.567 line with 72 runs scored and 54 RBI across 442 plate appearances.

Harper went hitless across four plate appearances in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

With a lineout and three popouts on the night, Harper saw an epic 24-game on-base streak come to an end. During that stretch, Harper slashed .352/.520/.803 with seven home runs and four stolen bases, propelling the Phillies up the standings along the way while improving his case for his second National League MVP award. He'll remain in the lineup Thursday as the Phillies look to avoid a series sweep in Arizona, batting third and manning right field.

Harper went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two walks Thursday against the Dodgers.

Harper took Mitch White deep in the opening frame to record his 21st home run of the season. Though that was his lone hit in the team's three-game set against the Dodgers, Harper reached base in every contest and drew four total walks. Thursday's effort also continued Harper's August power surge, as he has now delivered five homers in his last 11 games. Overall, he has maintained a .298/.413/.568 line with 67 runs scored, 46 RBI and 12 stolen bases across 395 plate appearances.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run -- his 20th of the season -- in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Mets.

In the three weeks since the All-Star break, Harper has been one of the top hitters in baseball and may have emerged as a contender for the National League MVP award. Through 23 second-half games, Harper has gone hitless on just four occasions while supplying a monstrous .370/.516/.740 slash line to go with five home runs and five stolen bases. Harper's heroics have been a major reason why the Phillies -- winners of eight straight -- have surged ahead of the slumping Mets for first place in the NL East.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run -- his 20th of the season -- in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Mets.

In the three weeks since the All-Star break, Harper has been one of the top hitters in baseball and may have emerged as a contender for the National League MVP award. Through 23 second-half games, Harper has gone hitless on just four occasions while supplying a monstrous .370/.516/.740 slash line to go with five home runs and five stolen bases. Harper's heroics have been a major reason why the Phillies -- winners of eight straight -- have surged ahead of the slumping Mets for first place in the NL East.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Thursday's victory over the Phillies.

Harper took Joe Ross deep to center field in the third inning to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. It was the 18th homer of the year for Harper, who is a scorching 9-for-19 (.474) with a pair of long balls during a six-game hitting streak. He's slashing .305/.417/.563 with 42 RBI and 12 stolen bases (13 attempts) in 372 plate appearances overall this season.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Nationals.

The 28-year-old seems to love nothing more than sticking it to his former club. This year alone, Harper has hit safely in all 13 games he's started against the Nats, going 20-for-48 (.417) with five doubles, five homers, nine RBI and 15 runs. For the season, he's slashing .306/.417/.557 with 17 home runs, 12 steals, 41 RBI and 61 runs through 87 contests.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's win against the Nationals.

Harper took Javy Guerra deep in the eighth inning. Despite dealing with back spasms last week, the 28-year-old has now hit safely in nine of his last 10 contests. On the season, he's averaging .301/.414/.553 with 17 long balls and 25 doubles.

Harper (back) is starting Friday's game against the Pirates.

Harper exited Thursday's nightcap against the Nationals due to back spasms, but he won't miss any additional time. He's gone 6-for-11 with a home run, two doubles, three runs, two RBI and six walks across the last five games.

Harper was removed from Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals with back spasms, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

It's not believed to be a serious issue, as Harper expects to be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old should be considered day-to-day until his return to the starting nine is confirmed.

Harper exited the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Nationals in the bottom of the third inning with an apparent injury, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper started both ends of the twin bill, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances on the day (one double, three walks) before departing when his second turn through the batting order came up in Game 2. According to Lauber, Harper appeared to be hurting when he made an error in the outfield in the top of the third, so the Phillies opted to pull him from the contest to further evaluate him. Expect the Phillies to provide an update on Harper's condition later Thursday or shortly before Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a solo, inside-the-park home run and an RBI double during Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Nationals.

Harper delivered the run-scoring double during the first inning, and he also hit an inside-the-park home run during the fifth when his shot to center field caromed off the top of the wall. It's the outfielder's seventh three-hit performance of the year and first of the second half. He's hitting .295/.399/.533 with 16 home runs, 20 doubles, 37 RBI, 54 runs and 12 stolen bases through 79 games.

Harper (foot) is starting Thursday's game against Atlanta.

Harper fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday against the Yankees but was able to remain in the game afterward. He underwent X-rays that apparently came back negative, and he'll start in right field and bat third Thursday.

Harper will have an X-ray after fouling a ball off hit foot Wednesday against the Yankees, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The outfielder didn't exit the game, but was in visible pain after a foul tip hit the top of his foot. Details about the X-ray results and Harper's status going forward should become available Thursday.

Harper sat out Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins due to dehydration issues, but he is expected to play Saturday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Temperatures were in the mid-90s for Game 1 of the doubleheader, in which Harper went 1-for-3 with a double and a run. It sounds like he will be a full-go for the rest of the weekend series.

Harper isn't starting the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a double and a run in Friday's matinee. Matt Vierling will take over in right field and bat eighth.

Harper went 5-for-6 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 15-10 win over the Cubs.

His three-run homer in the seventh inning was the first of his 15 long balls to come with runners on base this year. Harper also had a ground rule double in the fourth. The outfielder's big performance lifted his slash line to .282/.386/.529 through 267 plate appearances. He's added 30 RBI, 44 runs scored and seven stolen bases.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI against the Padres on Saturday.

Harper got the Phillies on the board with a solo homer in the second inning, his 14th round-tripper of the season, all of which have been solo blasts. He later broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth when he brought home J.T. Realmuto with a sac fly. Harper is enjoying another standout season -- slashing .271/.377/.514 while going a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases -- but has only driven in 26 runs in 252 plate appearances.

Harper went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 11-6 loss to the Marlins.

He took Jordan Holloway deep in the second inning to get the Phillies on the board, then launched a shot off Anthony Bass in the seventh that capped his team's scoring. Harper wrapped a solid June with a .278/.366/.556 slash line and six of his 13 homers on the year.

Harper (calf) is starting Monday's game against the Reds.

Harper was held out of Sunday's lineup after he was hit by a pitch on the left calf Saturday, and he didn't appear off the bench in the win over the Mets. However, he'll start in right field and bat fourth in Monday's contest.

Harper (leg) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mets.

The 28-year-old exited Saturday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the left leg, and he'll be sidelined for at least one game. Travis Jankowski will start in right field Sunday for the Phillies.

Harper left Saturday's game against the Mets in the bottom of the sixth inning with an apparent left leg injury, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth inning, and he initially remained in the game to run the bases. However, Travis Jankowski took his place in right field in the bottom of the frame. The exact nature and severity of Harper's injury aren't yet clear.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs and two walks in Wednesday's 13-12 loss to the Nationals.

It was the second consecutive day with a homer for Harper, who has hit .289 with three homers, seven RBI and six walks since returning from the injured list June 5. Though he hasn't quite re-established his dominance from the beginning of the season, Harper has still been one of his team's most consistent offensive players, and that the home runs are starting to come bodes well for him going forward.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's loss to the Nationals.

Harper got the Phillies on the board by taking Max Scherzer deep in the second inning. It was the ninth long ball of the season for the 28-year-old and his first since June 8. Overall, Harper has compiled a .279/.386/.481 slash line across 51 games.

Harper (back) is starting Friday's game against the Giants.

Harper left Tuesday's game against the Dodgers due to lower-back tightness and was held out Wednesday as a result. However, he was able to rest during Thursday's off day, and he'll return to right field and bat third in Friday's series opener in San Francisco. The 28-year-old has gone 6-for-15 with a double, three RBI and two runs across his last four appearances.

Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday after the Phillies' 5-3 loss to the Dodgers that Harper (back) won't be available for Wednesday's series finale, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies lost both Harper and Jean Segura (groin) due to injuries Tuesday, though Girardi suggested the latter's health is a greater concern moving forward than the former. While Harper will sit Wednesday due to lower-back tightness, the Phillies are labeling him as day-to-day and are hopeful he'll be ready to go for this weekend's series in San Francisco following a team off day Thursday.

Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with lower-back tightness, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 28-year-old had the injury crop up on a swing during his fourth-inning strikeout, and he didn't take the field for the bottom of the frame. Harper dealt with the same injury in mid-April and only missed one game, though the severity of the issue this time around remains unclear.

Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with an apparent injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper struck out to open the fourth inning and was replaced in right field for the bottom of the frame. The specifics of the injury remain unclear, though it could be a back or side issue as he appeared to suffer the injury during a swing.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Yankees.

Harper raised his RBI total to 17 when he gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead with a two-run single in the first inning and later came around to score on an Alec Bohm single. The outfielder added two more knocks to give him his first multi-hit performance since May 18, increasing his batting average to .272 in doing so.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks during Tuesday's 9-5 loss to Atlanta.

The 28-year-old slugged his first homer since May 11 during the fourth inning, which covered 12 games, 44 plate appearances and a stint on the injured list. Harper has a .274/.398/.493 slash line with eight home runs, eight doubles, 15 RBI, 18 runs and five stolen bases in 41 games this season.

Harper went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's win over the Nationals.

Harper did a good job stuffing the box score Saturday, recording his 14th RBI of the season and also stealing his fifth base. However, the most important thing is that the star outfielder looked completely recovered from the forearm injury that sidelined him for nearly two weeks. Expect Harper to reclaim his starting role in both the outfield and the middle of the Phillies' lineup moving forward now that he's healthy.

Harper (forearm) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Harper's swelling in his forearm recently decreased, and he'll be now be available to return ahead of Saturday's game against the Nationals. The 28-year-old is slashing .274/.395/.489 with seven home runs, 25 runs and 13 RBI this year, and he'll reclaim his starting role going forward.

Manager Joe Girardi said Friday that Harper (forearm) has decreased swelling in his arm but isn't return to be activated from the injured list, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 28-year-old was eligible to return from the injured list Wednesday, but he needs more than the 10-day minimum to recover from the forearm contusion. Harper remains without an official timeline for his return, but based on Girardi's comments, the outfielder is unlikely to be activated this weekend.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Harper (forearm) is unlikely to return from the 10-day injured list Wednesday when first eligible, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was able to do some light hitting Monday, but he apparently needs more time to heal after he was placed on the shelf last Tuesday with a left forearm bruise. The 28-year-old's ongoing absence should continue to open up more reps in right field for Matt Joyce and Brad Miller.

Harper was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left forearm contusion, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

There had been no prior indication of an injury to the star right fielder, but a miserable stretch at the plate and days off Sunday and Monday fueled speculation, despite the team's denial, that Harper was not 100 percent physically. It's unclear whether Harper will require longer than the minimum 10 days on the IL, but perhaps the absence will be the key to overcoming his offensive and defensive woes of late.

Manager Joe Girardi indicated that Harper's absence from the lineup Monday against Miami wasn't related to any injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

It's highly unusual for a healthy superstar to sit two games in a row, but that's supposedly the case for Harper, as the Phillies insist his absences aren't related to the sore shoulder he battled in mid-May. If there's ever a time to give a player of Harper's talent level multiple days off in a row, this would be the time to do it, as he's hitting .080/.115/.080 with a 50 percent strikeout rate over his last seven games.

Harper remains on the bench for Monday's game in Miami, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

A second straight absence for Harper suggests his off day Sunday wasn't merely a routine one, though the Phillies have yet to specify exactly why he's on the bench. Something is clearly not right with him lately, however, as he's gone hitless in six of his last seven games, striking out in half of his plate appearances over that stretch. Brad Miller starts in right field in his absence.

Harper is out of the lineup Sunday against the Red Sox, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper is 0-for-16 with 10 strikeouts over the past four games, so he'll receive a day off Sunday to reset. Brad Miller will work in right field during the series finale versus Boston.

Harper went 2-for-5 with two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Marlins.

Harper snapped a two-game hitless run and plated a run for the first time since May 11. He has hit safely in five of his last seven contests and while the power numbers have been absent of late -- just one homer over his last 51 at-bats -- he's still hitting .311 on the season while providing value across the board.

Harper (shoulder) will return to the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins, batting third and playing right field, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper left Saturday's game against the Blue Jays with a sore right shoulder and did not take part in Sunday's contest, but he's ready to go following Monday's off day. He's been banged up more than his fair share already this season but has produced his usual excellent numbers when healthy, hitting .307/.436/.561 with seven homers and four steals in 33 games.

Harper (shoulder) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays.

The 28-year-old exited Saturday's contest with soreness in his right shoulder, and it's not a major surprise to see him on the bench for the series finale. Harper will also have Monday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing more time. Scott Kingery will receive the start in right field for the Phillies on Sunday.

Harper is considered day-to-day after being removed from Saturday's game against the Blue Jays with right shoulder soreness, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The 28-year-old struck out in both plate appearances Saturday before being replaced in right field by Scott Kingery. Harper's status for Sunday's series finale is up in the air, though the Phillies could play it safe and give him the day off with a scheduled off day to follow Monday.

Harper went 2-for-2 with a double, three walks and a run scored in Friday's 5-1 win over Toronto.

Harper was very effective at the plate. His run came in the seventh inning, as he got aboard with a walk and scored on a Rhys Hoskins double. Harper has an excellent .318/.449/582 slash line with seven home runs, 11 RBI, 25 runs scored and four stolen bases in 31 games this season. He also avoided striking out Friday for the first time since April 25, a span of 10 contests.

Harper went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 extra-inning win over the Nationals.

The 28-year-old continued to torment his former club, going 4-for-8 over the first two games of this series. On the season, Harper is hitting .308 through 29 games with seven homers, three steals, 11 RBI and 24 runs.

Harper went 1-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Nationals.

He took Erick Fedde deep in the first inning, Harper's first long ball since April 25. The 28-year-old slugger is off to a fantastic start to the season, slashing .293/.426/.566 through 28 games with seven homers, three steals, 11 RBI and 23 runs.

Harper (wrist) will bat third and play right field Friday against Atlanta.

Harper took a pitch off his face and wrist back on April 28 and has appeared in just a single game since then. He attempted to return four days later but aggravated the wrist issue, forcing him to sit for four more days. He's fully cleared again after taking batting practice Thursday and will look to build on a strong start which has seen him post a .317/.446/.598 slash line through 24 games.

Harper (wrist) was able to take swings in the batting cage prior to Thursday's 2-0 win over the Brewers, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was held out of the lineup for the entire four-game series with Milwaukee while he continues to manage a sore left wrist, but his ability to get in some work in the cage offers some hope he'll avoid a trip to the injured list. The Phillies will likely see if he can take batting practice on the field Friday before determining his availability for their series opener in Atlanta later that day.

Harper (wrist) will remain on the bench Thursday against the Brewers, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was hit in the face and wrist by a pitch last Wednesday and has been in the lineup for just one out of eight games since then. The Phillies have still yet to place him on the injured list, however, so there's seemingly still some optimism that he'll be back in the lineup soon. Brad Miller will make another start in right field in his absence.

Harper (wrist) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Harper was hit by a pitch on his face and wrist last Wednesday against the Cardinals and will be out of the lineup for the sixth time in the last seven games. Brad Miller will start in right field and bat second.

Harper (wrist) will remain on the bench Tuesday against the Brewers.

Harper has now been in the lineup just once in six games after being struck in the face and wrist by a pitch last Wednesday against the Cardinals. He returned to the lineup Sunday but aggravated the wrist issue. It's unclear when the Phillies expect him to return. Brad Miller starts in right field in his absence.

Harper will not start Monday's game against Milwaukee after re-aggravating his sore wrist Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper's problems stem from a hit by pitch back on Wednesday which ricocheted off his face and into his left wrist. He returned to the lineup Sunday and reached base twice but evidently needs at least one more day to recover. It's unclear when the Phillies expect him to be ready to play again.

Harper (wrist/face) will start in right field and bat third Sunday against the Mets.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since being struck in the face and wrist by a fastball Wednesday, but he'll return to his usual spot in right field for Sunday's series finale. Harper has a .321/.448/.615 slash line with six home runs, five doubles, 10 RBI and 17 runs through 23 games this season.

Harper (wrist) will sit for the third straight game Saturday against the Mets.

Harper hasn't played since taking fastball off his face and wrist in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. The Phillies made a set of transactions Saturday which didn't include sending Harper to the injured list, so it appears as though they expect him back on the field soon. Matt Joyce will make another start in right field Saturday.

Harper (face) is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets primarily due to a sore wrist, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The fastball that hit Harper's face Wednesday deflected into his left wrist, which is still sore two days later. While his wrist is bothering him more than his face, neither issue appears to be serious enough to send him to the injured list, with the Phillies calling his absence precautionary. Matt Joyce will fill in for him in right field Friday.

Harper (face) remains on the bench Friday against the Mets.

Harper left Wednesday's game against the Cardinals after getting hit in the face by a pitch and did not take part in Thursday's series finale. He hasn't been placed on the injured list, but it's not yet clear when the Phillies expect him back in the lineup. Matt Joyce will start in right field in his absence.

Harper will sit Thursday against the Cardinals after getting struck in the face by a pitch in Wednesday's contest.

Harper was at least able to walk off the field under his own power and received good news from a CT scan after the game. He'll sit for at least one game, but he hasn't yet required a trip to the injured list. Roman Quinn starts in right field in his absence.

Harper (face) underwent a CT scan and said "everything came back good" after leaving Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

The 28-year-old was hit in the face by a 97-mph fastball during the sixth inning Wednesday, and the initial diagnosis brought back good news. Harper should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated, and the Phillies seem likely to exercise caution with their star outfielder. The series finale versus St. Louis is Thursday afternoon, and he figures be withheld from the lineup for at least one game, especially given the quick turnaround.

Harper was removed Wednesday's game against the Cardinals after being hit by a pitch in the face, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old was bleeding from a cut near his nose after being struck flush in the face by a 97-mph fastball during the sixth inning. Harper went 0-for-2 before leaving the field under his own power due to the hit by pitch. He figures to be evaluated for a concussion and should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Cardinals.

Harper doubled in the first and then singled and stole second in the ninth for his 100th career stolen base as he accounted for two of the team's three total hits on the night. The 28-year-old has been an extremely difficult out at the plate over the last nine games, slashing .441/.525/.882 to go along with a 1.084 OPS. Harper does happen to be one of the best first-month hitters in MLB history with a lifetime 1.030 OPS in March/April. That number is more than 100 points better than his best mark in any other month so it will be interesting to see if he can keep up his production as the season drags on into the summer and beyond.

Harper went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 12-2 loss to the Rockies.

Harper hit a home run in each of his first two at-bats of the afternoon, including a 468-foot shot to right field, good for third-longest this season. The 28-year-old has been unconscious at the plate lately, slashing .483/.583/.1.000 with four home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored and a 7:4 BB:K over his last eight games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Giants.

The 28-year-old continues to swing the bat well and has four straight multi-hit games, going 10-for-14 with two homers, a double, four walks and four runs during that stretch. Harper has a .357/.493/.625 slash line with four home runs, eight RBI, 13 runs and a 14:13 BB:K through 17 games this season.

Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in Tuesday's 10-7 loss to the Giants.

Both of Harper's hits went for singles but he continued his strong presence at the plate. He's slashed .692/.765/.1.077 with one home run, three RBI and four runs scored while also posting a 4:1 BB:K over his last four games. He'll look to keep things rolling and help the Phillies avoid the sweep in Wednesday's series finale against Anthony DeSclafani.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a stolen base in Monday's 2-0 loss to the Giants.

All three knocks were singles, but Harper couldn't convert them into further production aside from his first steal of the year, as the rest of the Phillies lineup managed only four hits in total. Harper is off to a fast start to 2021, slashing .327/.459/.571 through 15 games with three homers, seven RBI and nine runs.

Harper went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, one double and one walk in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Cardinals.

Harper was held out of Saturday's loss due to lower-back tightness, but he reached base four times and came within a triple of the cycle in Sunday's victory. The 28-year-old is now slashing .289/.439/.556 with three home runs and seven RBI this season.

Harper (back) will start in right field and bat third Sunday against the Cardinals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper was held out of the lineup for Saturday's 9-4 loss while managing lower-back tightness, but he apparently needed only one day off to overcome the issue. The 28-year-old has gotten on base at an excellent .396 clip this season, but a .238 average and modest counting-stats totals (two home runs, eight runs, six RBI and no stolen bases in 13 games) has muted his overall fantasy impact thus far.

Manager Joe Girardi said Harper (back) is considered day-to-day and might play Sunday against the Cardinals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old was withheld from Saturday's lineup with tightness in his lower back, but it doesn't appear to be a serious issue. Harper also dealt with back problems late last season and had a slow buildup in camp for similar issues. The Phillies figure to remain cautious with their star right fielder, but there doesn't currently appear to be much concern over his long-term status.

Harper's absence from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals is due to lower-back tightness, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

It initially appeared as though Harper was simply getting a bit of rest, but it turns out that he's dealing with a minor injury. The Phillies haven't expressed significant concern, calling him day-to-day, but there's potentially reason to worry. Harper dealt with back issues late last season and was brought along slowly at the start of camp this year for the same reason. At minimum, this looks like something Harper and the Phillies will have to monitor throughout the season, which could result in a few more off days than he's used to.

Harper will hit the bench for the first time this season Saturday against St. Louis.

Harper hasn't been bad to start the season, though his .825 OPS through his first 13 games is below his usual standards. There hasn't been any indication that his day off Saturday is anything other than a routine one. Matt Joyce will get the start in right field in his absence.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Braves.

Harper started out poorly, as he went down swinging in each of his first two at-bats but came around in the sixth as he started off the inning by belting an opposite-field home run to put the Phillies uo 6-5. The 28-year-old has managed to reach safely in every game so far, as he's slashing .276/.447/.517 with two home runs, four RBI and seven runs scored.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's loss to the Braves.

Harper is posting an impressive .471 OBP this season, but fantasy managers who roster him had to be let down by his lack of power and production prior to Saturday. The outfielder quelled some of that concern with his first homer of the season, which gave the Phillies a short-lived one-run lead in the sixth inning. The long ball pushed Harper's RBI total to a modest three for the campaign.

Harper went 0-for-2 with two walks in Friday's 8-1 loss to the Braves.

Harper continues to have a slow start to the 2021 season. Across 21 at-bats this season Harper has only registered one extra-base hit and zero home runs. The superstar outfielder has drawn a walk on 26.7 percent of his plate appearances to help make up for his lack of hits. Through seven games Harper is slashing .238/.467/.286, a far cry from the lofty expectations he had after a tremendous spring where he put together a .343 batting average with four home runs.

Harper finished with a .343/.477/.771 slash line to go with four home runs across 35 at-bats during Grapefruit League play.

Harper typically hit in the No. 3 spot throughout the spring, and he should slot in behind Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto or Rhys Hoskins in the batting order when Philadelphia opens its season Thursday against Atlanta lefty Max Fried. Even by his lofty standards, the 28-year-old turned in an outstanding 2020 season that somewhat slipped under the radar, with a magnificent 20.5 percent walk rate propelling him to a .962 OPS, the third-best mark of his career. He continued to show a discerning eye at the dish this spring, drawing nine walks against 11 strikeouts.

Harper isn't expected to play the field until sometime next week, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper dealt with back issues last season and has been brought along cautiously in camp, with his Grapefruit League appearances all coming as a designated hitter thus far. The Phillies haven't expressed much concern, but the way they're treating the star slugger nevertheless seems telling. It's possible Harper sees more frequent off days than he's used to this year as the Phillies strive to ensure his back problems don't reach the point that he needs to miss an extended period. It's also possible that this is simply standard spring caution and that Harper will be treated normally once the regular season begins.

Harper mentioned on the Phillies' spring training broadcast Friday that he's on a throwing program but will throw to bases as soon as Monday.

Harper battled back issues late last season, making it tough for him to throw. He's being brought along slowly this spring but made his Grapefruit League debut as a hitter Friday against the Pirates and looked ready to go, homering to left field in his first plate appearance. There should still be plenty of time for Harper to get fully up to speed on both sides of the ball by Opening Day.

Harper will make his spring debut in Friday's exhibition game against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It was reported earlier in the week that Harper was in no rush to get into games, but he is apparently ready to step into the batter's box and face opposing pitchers for the first time. Harper will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and hit third Friday.

Harper is still a few days away from making his Grapefruit League debut, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

There haven't been any suggestions that Harper is dealing with an injury, so this appears to be simply a case of a veteran heading into his 10th big-league season who knows exactly how much game action he needs to get ready. There's little reason to fear Harper will be anything other than the elite slugger he's been throughout his time in the league, especially coming off a season in which he walked more than he struck out and produced the third-best slugging percentage (.542) of his career.

Harper went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs, two additional runs scored and three walks during Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Nationals.

The 27-year-old has been battling a back issue recently but was in vintage form Wednesday, hitting a pair of solo homers and being intentionally walked in his other three plate appearances. Harper has a .256/.411/.533 slash line with 13 homers, 40 runs, 30 RBI and eight stolen bases in 55 games this season.

Harper is starting Monday against the Nationals.

Harper exited Sunday's contest against the Blue Jays with lower back stiffness, but he'll be healthy enough to serve as the designated hitter for the series opener in Washington. The 27-year-old has gone 7-for-17 with five extra-base hits and six RBI over the past five games.

Harper left Sunday's loss to the Blue Jays with lower back stiffness, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Harper appeared to be in pain after fielding a triple in the top of the seventh inning Sunday, and manager Joe Girardi revealed after the game that he's experiencing lower back stiffness. He wasn't sure how the injury would impact Harper's availability for Monday's contest on the road against the Nationals. "He'll get a lot of treatment and we'll cross our fingers," Girardi said.

Harper left Sunday's game against the Blue Jays with a potential injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper appeared to be uncomfortable while he was playing the field in the top of the seventh inning, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. He then said something to manager Joe Girardi after his at-bat in the seventh inning prior to heading back to the clubhouse. He was replaced by Phil Gosselin in right field to begin the eighth inning. It's unclear exactly what issue Harper may be dealing with.

Harper went 4-for-6 with two walks, two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and four RBI across both games of Friday's doubleheader as the Phillies swept the Blue Jays.

His two-run shot off Robbie Ray in the matinee gave the Phils some insurance runs in a 7-0 victory, then Harper reached base all four times he came to the plate in the nightcap in a wild 8-7 win. Over his last 10 games, the 27-year-old is slashing .343/.452/.829 with four homers and seven RBI as he tries to lead Philadelphia into the postseason.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs and two walks in a loss to the Mets on Thursday.

Harper did his part to get Philadelphia off to a fast start, launching a pair of massive home runs totaling 878 combined feet off Mets starter Seth Lugo in the first two innings. New York was more careful with the slugger going forward, walking him twice over his subsequent three plate appearances. Harper has racked up 10 homers and 24 RBI in his second season with the Phillies.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two walks, an RBI and three runs scored Saturday as he helped the Phillies to a 12-6 win over the Marlins.

It was nearly impossible to get Harper out Saturday evening as the 27-year-old reached base five times. His night was highlighted by a leadoff solo home run to opposite field in the third to extend the Phillies' lead to 5-0. Harper is hitting a standard .263 this season with eight home runs and 22 RBI but also has a .425 on-base percentage which is on track to be his highest mark since his MVP season in 2015.

Harper won't be in the lineup Friday against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The veteran outfielder started the past 11 games, but he'll take a seat for the second time this season after going 6-for-37 with a .636 OPS during that stretch. Harper still has a .365 on-base percentage during that time frame, but he's also struck out 14 times. He should rejoin the lineup Saturday after receiving the day to reset.

Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base Tuesday in the Phillies' 6-0 win over the Nationals.

Harper is batting 4-for-27 with no home runs over his last eight games, but he's been more of an asset in on-base percentage leagues during that stretch, racking up 10 walks against seven strikeouts. The fact that Harper has stayed healthy and remained active on the bases (5-for-5 on steal attempts) has allowed him to justify his draft-day cost, regardless of league format. He'll be in the lineup again for Wednesday's series finale, marking his 31st start in the Phillies' 32 games to date.

Harper went 1-for-2 with two walks, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.

His two-run shot off Robbie Erlin in the first inning gave the Phillies an early lead, but the team's bullpen once again fell apart late. Harper is in MVP form, going yard three times in his last five games, and on the season he's slashing a massive .343/.478/.714 with seven homers and 19 RBI through 22 games.

Harper is not in the lineup Friday against the Braves, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old started all 21 games in right field this season, so he'll receive a day off Friday as manager Joe Girardi described him as "dog-tired," per Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Harper has an impressive 1.147 OPS with six homers, 21 runs, 16 RBI and four stolen bases through 86 plate appearances. Roman Quinn receives the start in right field for the Phillies.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run as the Phillies fell to the Blue Jays 3-2 in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader.

Harper opened the scoring with a solo homer off Chase Anderson in the first. The slugger has six homers and 16 RBI while slashing a stellar .343/.470./.687 on the season.

Harper went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 13-6 win over the Red Sox.

Harper blew things open with his three-run blast in the sixth-inning, which came during a seven-run rally. In the eighth, he got aboard with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a Jay Bruce three-run homer. Harper has hit safely in nine straight games, going 14-for-33 (.424) with three homers, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in that span. The 27-year-old is slashing .367/.486/.700 with five homers, four steals, 15 RBI and 19 runs scored in 18 games overall.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and a walk Tuesday against the Orioles.

Harper hit a clutch two-run home run in the eighth inning to tie the game at five. It was his fourth home run of the season, and second in as many games. Through 48 plate appearances this season, Harper has a stellar .324/.479/.676 line with 12 runs scored and 10 RBI.

Harper went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 13-8 win over the Braves.

Harper put the Phils ahead early with his third home run of the season and later singled and scored on a J.T. Realmuto long ball. Just like that, the 27-year-old outfielder is batting over .300 and his OPS is once again north of 1.000. He also chipped in his first stolen base last week.

Harper (undisclosed) is starting in right field and batting third in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The 27-year-old made an early exit from the matinee after being looked at by the athletic trainer, but it was apparently a precautionary move with the Phillies holding an 11-3 lead. Harper was productive during Game 1 before exiting, going 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs and a walk.

Harper was removed from the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader for an undisclosed reason, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper was looked at by a trainer after reaching base during the fifth inning but was able to remain in the game. However, the 27-year-old was pulled in the sixth inning, which could simply be a precautionary measure with the Phillies leading 11-3 at the time. His status for Game 2 is unclear. Prior to his early exit, Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, two runs and one walk.

Harper went 1-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run against the Marlins Sunday.

Harper got the Phillies off to a quick start with a deep home run to right field in the first inning. It was his first long ball of the season, though the Marlins pitching staff issued him four free passes in their three-game set. Harper will look to build on this performance, as the Phillies take on the Yankees in their second series of the campaign.

Harper suffered nothing worse than a bruised left big toe after getting hit by a pitch Tuesday and will be back on the field Friday against Detroit, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper indicated during the game that his removal was purely precautionary, and it seems as though his optimism was warranted. The Phillies have an off day Wednesday, and Harper wasn't scheduled to play Thursday, so he won't wind up missing any time with the minor injury.

Harper said that he was "totally fine" after leaving Tuesday's game against the Twins after a pitch hit his foot, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper didn't appear to be in significant pain as he left the game, and he confirmed during the game that his removal was indeed precautionary. He was only scheduled for two at-bats in Tuesday's contest, so his early removal shouldn't have any impact on his buildup for Opening Day beyond costing him a single spring at-bat. His return date is not yet clear, but it sounds as though it will be coming quite soon.

Harper left Tuesday's game against the Twins after getting hit by a pitch in his right foot, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper walked off the field without issues and didn't appear to be noticeably limping, so it's likely his removal was purely precautionary. His expected return date should become clear following the game.