The Philadelphia Phillies won both games of Thursday's doubleheader vs. the Atlanta Braves without star first baseman Bryce Harper, but they'd be in trouble if he missed extended time. The eight-time All-Star is slashing .267/.375/.450 with eight homers and 33 RBI through 54 games thus far, and his home run and RBI totals rank second on the team only to outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
Harper left in the first inning of Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Braves after getting hit near the right elbow by a 95.3 miles-per-hour Spencer Strider fastball. The 32-year-old sustained a bruise, but his X-ray was negative.
Harper updated the media about his status before Philadelphia's home matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, via The Philadelphia Inquirer's Lochlahn March.
"Bryce Harper said he’s still 'super sore' and hasn’t tried to swing a bat yet," she reported. "He doesn’t think he will swing one today either, although he still hopes he will avoid a stint on the injured list."
“It’s a really tough spot where it got me," Harper added. "So I just want to be smart about it, too.”
Bryce Harper said he’s still “super sore” and hasn’t tried to swing a bat yet. He doesn’t think he will swing one today either, although he still hopes he will avoid a stint on the injured list.
— Lochlahn March (@lochlahn) May 30, 2025
“It’s a really tough spot where it got me. So I just want to be smart about it too.”
The Phillies own the NL's best record at 36-20, one game ahead of the Chicago Cubs and two ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Philadelphia will host Milwaukee for the next three games before hitting the road to face the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates. After that, it will return home to play the Cubs and Blue Jays again.
Right-handed pitcher Taijuan Walker (2-3, 2.97 ERA) will start for the Phillies on Friday night against Brewers southpaw DL Hall (1-0, 3.86 ERA).
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