WASHINGTON – Bryce Harper was out of the Phillies’ lineup Saturday afternoon because of a blister on his left hand.
“It kind of blew up on him overnight,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I planned on playing him today but had to scratch him.”
Thomson said the blister, just under the index finger and above the palm, was infected and Harper was being treated with antibiotics. The slugger is considered day to day. A pinch-hitting appearance Saturday was not out of the question.
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“They’re working on it,” Thomson said. “We’ll see how it progresses during the day.”
Harper has now been out of the starting lineup two straight games. He did not start the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, but came off the bench with a huge, game-tying, two-run double in the eighth.
The blister “didn’t force him out of (Friday night’s) start,” Thomson said. “He did feel it a little bit, but obviously, he played and got the big hit.”
Harper, the reigning National League MVP, is having another big season. Entering Saturday, he had 15 homers and ranked sixth in the majors in OPS (1.013) and hits (75) and seventh in batting average (.326) and RBIs (48).
MLB
The Phillies entered Saturday with a 14-2 record in June. Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins have backboned the offense during the stretch. Entering Saturday, Harper ranked third in slugging percentage (.750) in the majors for the month. Schwarber was fourth (.733) and Hoskins 11th (.672).
Hoskins did not start Saturday afternoon. It was a planned day off. Alec Bohm started at first base and Yairo Munoz at third. With Harper out, Thomson used Nick Castellanos as the DH and Matt Vierling in right field.
Harper has played almost the entire season with a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The injury prevents him from throwing and has relegated him to just DH duty. Thomson said Harper was still a couple of weeks away from testing his arm with some throwing.
A TRADE
Reliever James Norwood, who had been designated for assignment earlier in the week, was traded to Boston in a cash deal.
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