Bryce Harper
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2013Crushers13851258117651712204813918060.2290.2950.426
2014Crushers1174527310862161275810011050.2390.3270.458
2015Crushers10038743873610013261083060.2250.2750.351
2016Crushers153567104168141380471071355020.2960.4090.612
2017Crushers14757410412676300328713329000.2200.3240.439
2018Crushers11142078135952603157965200.3210.4040.605
2019Crushers15960593122903302710917019040.2020.3290.390
2020Crushers15760497144116340387419116100.2380.3310.483
2021Crushers1575911231431052164411513321140.2420.3670.521
2022Crushers141573109156108371398317315150.2720.3680.545
2023Crushers99394591026230317388516130.2590.3350.480
2024Crushers1265071001325635125881308210.2600.3710.481
2025Crushers2692252626511117211000.2830.4000.717
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 30 2025The Phillies activated Harper (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He will start at first base and bat third in the Phillies' series opener versus the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper will return to the Philadelphia lineup after missing the last three-plus weeks with right wrist inflammation. The 32-year-old did not go out on a rehab assignment, but the Phillies were convinced of Harper's readiness by how he looked against live pitching over the weekend.
Jun 29 2025Harper (wrist) traveled with the Phillies to Atlanta this weekend and took swings in live batting practice Saturday, Bill Trocchi of the Associated Press reports. "He was great," Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. "Looked like he got his bat speed and his timing looked fine." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper isn't scheduled to do any on-field work Sunday, but if his wrist checks out OK after Saturday's BP session, the two-time NL MVP could bypass a rehab assignment and return from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Padres. While Harper has been on the shelf, rookie Otto Kemp has stepped in as the Phillies' primary first baseman.
Jun 26 2025Harper (wrist) could be activated from the 10-day injured list Monday when the Phillies begin a homestand, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper took 75 swings off a high-velocity pitching machine Thursday and is slated to hit outside on the field Friday. He could face live pitching after that. While it sounds like Harper will not be activated over the weekend in Atlanta, he appears poised to skip a rehab assignment and return early next week if he continues to trend in the right direction.
Jun 24 2025Harper (wrist) will go through his usual pre-game routine prior to Tuesday's game against the Astros, though he isn't expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list before the end of the series, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The routine includes about 50 swings, fielding grounders and going through a throwing program, and if all goes well, he could take batting practice Wednesday. Harper continues to progress in his recovery from right wrist inflammation, and he appears to be lining up to rejoin the Phillies this weekend or next week, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, though there's officially no timeline for his return.
Jun 21 2025Harper (wrist) progressed to soft toss ahead of Saturday's game against the Mets, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper continues to gradually ramp up his baseball activity amid his recovery from right wrist inflammation, as his absence has now extended beyond two weeks. There remains no clear timetable for his return to the field, and it's unclear if the Phillies will send him on a brief minor-league rehab assignment or simply reinstate him from the injured list once the superstar first baseman is deemed ready for game action. In the meantime, Alec Bohm and Otto Kemp should continue to split the reps at the cold corner.
Jun 20 2025Harper (wrist) took 20 swings off a tee Friday, but he remains without a timetable for return, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper took dry swings Thursday and has progressed to hitting off a tee. While it's unclear how close he is to returning, it's another encouraging step in his recovery from right wrist inflammation.
Jun 19 2025Harper (wrist) threw and took some dry swings Thursday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first time he's done any throwing or hitting since he went on the 10-day injured list with right wrist inflammation more than two weeks ago. The plan is for Harper to throw from a greater distance and possibly hit off a tee Friday, at which point the Phillies expect to have a better idea regarding a timetable for his return.
Jun 18 2025Manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Harper (wrist) has improved strength and range of motion, and the first baseman is "getting close" to throwing, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old has been fielding grounders since landing on the injured list June 7 due to wrist inflammation, but he has yet to be cleared to resuming throwing or swing a bat. Harper may not require a rehab assignment before rejoining the active roster, but he'll need to get back to full baseball activities before a potential return date comes into focus.
Jun 15 2025Harper (wrist) fielded ground balls at first base Friday, but the Phillies aren't certain when he'll be ready to swing a bat or resume throwing, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper is set to accompany the Phillies on their four-game set in Miami to begin the week, but he doesn't appear on track to be activated at any point during the series. The 32-year-old won't be cleared for throwing or swinging until his right wrist is completely pain-free, though the Phillies relayed Sunday that the range of motion in his wrist is "almost" back to normal. Otto Kemp will continue to serve as the Phillies' primary first baseman for the duration of Harper's absence.
Jun 7 2025The Phillies placed Harper on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to right wrist inflammation, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper sat out Friday's matchup versus Pittsburgh due to what was deemed soreness in his right wrist, and he's now set for a longer absence with a diagnosis of inflammation. The move is retroactive to June 6, so Harper will be eligible to return for the first contest of a three-game set against Miami on June 16, though it's unclear at this point if he'll be ready to return then. Philadelphia recalled Otto Kemp from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move Saturday.
Jun 6 2025Manager Rob Thomson said Friday that Harper is day-to-day with soreness in his right wrist, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Harper is out of Friday's lineup. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper has been playing through a nagging wrist injury and will get Friday off to rest and recover. The first baseman also missed time last week after being hit by a pitch in the elbow. In his place, Alec Bohm will bat third and play first base.
Jun 4 2025Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, two walks and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper took Bowden Francis deep in his first at-bat since being hit in the elbow by a fastball May 27. He also worked multiple walks in a game for the first time since April 26. His plate discipline has been superb, as he owns a 6:3 BB:K over his last 14 games. For the year, Harper's hitting .268/.380/.463 with nine homers, 34 RBI, 32 runs, eight steals and a 35:42 BB:K in 245 plate appearances.
Jun 3 2025Harper (elbow) is starting at first base and batting third Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper hasn't seen the field since he sustained an elbow bruise on a hit-by-pitch last Tuesday versus Atlanta, but he's good to go for the series opener in Toronto. The veteran slugger was in the midst of a strong stretch at the plate prior to the elbow issue, as he has a .390/.447/.561 slash line with four doubles, a homer, two steals, 10 RBI and six runs in his past 11 games.
Jun 1 2025Harper (elbow) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper hasn't started since being hit by a pitch in the right elbow Tuesday versus Atlanta, and his absence will continue Sunday. The 32-year-old is still dealing with some bruising, though manager Rob Thomson relayed Saturday that the swelling has improved significantly over the past couple days. Harper will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery before the Phillies begin a three-game set in Toronto on Tuesday. For his part, Harper said that he's feeling much better and anticipates playing in the series opener versus the Blue Jays, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
May 31 2025Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Harper (elbow) will try to swing a bat during batting practice before Saturday's game against the Brewers, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Thomson relayed that Harper's right elbow is more bruised, though the swelling has drastically improved since he was hit by a pitch against Atlanta on Tuesday. Harper is out of the Phillies' lineup for a fourth consecutive game, but the expectation is that the All-Star first baseman will avoid a stint on the injured list. Alec Bohm will start at first base and bat in the cleanup spot against Milwaukee on Saturday.
May 30 2025Harper (elbow) is not in Friday's lineup against the Brewers, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper will miss a third straight game with a right elbow bruise. Alec Bohm is starting at first base while Edmundo Sosa mans third. Harper called himself "super day to day" on Friday, but he hasn't tried singing a bat yet and likely won't Friday, per Paul Casella of MLB.com, so it's possible this turns into an IL stint. When he returns, he'll be wearing a new elbow brace, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
May 29 2025Harper (elbow) is out of the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was absent from the first game of Thursday's doubleheader as well, but Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Harper was feeling better after Game 1, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports. Alec Bohm has the start at first base and is batting third while Edmundo Sosa enters the lineup at third base.
May 27 2025Harper was diagnosed with a bruised right elbow following his exit from Tuesday's game against Atlanta, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper left in the first inning of Tuesday's game after being hit in the right elbow on a pitch from Spencer Strider. The good news for Harper is that X-rays came back negative, but it's unclear if he'll be available for the final two games of the series against Atlanta. Alec Bohm could see some starts at first base if Harper were to be sidelined due to his elbow injury.
May 22 2025Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run and a stolen base against the Rockies in a 9-5 win Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper's long ball was a big 437-foot solo shot in the third inning. The veteran first baseman recorded his third straight multi-hit effort and extended his hitting streak to a modest six games. Over that span, he's slashing a scorching .542/.556/.792 with one homer, eight RBI, five runs and two thefts.
May 21 2025Harper went 3-for-5 with two RBI, two doubles and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper extended his hitting streak to five games, collecting multiple knocks for the fourth time during that stretch. Over his last 15 contests, the All-Star first baseman is batting a scorching .368 (21-for-57) with two homers, six doubles, 14 RBI and nine runs scored. Harper now has 13 multi-hit efforts in 2025.
May 10 2025Harper went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and a double in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper broke things open with a 421-foot home run that ignited a six-run eighth inning for the Phillies. Over his past 10 games, the first baseman has tallied three multi-hit efforts with five extra-base hits, six RBI and six runs scored. While he's batting a modest .242 on the season, the 32-year-old has provided steady production with seven homers, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and six steals across 177 plate appearances.
May 3 2025Harper went 0-for-4 with a walk in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper's recent slump continued Saturday, as he's now without a home run in 13 consecutive games. He has only four extra-base hits during this span, batting just .176 (9-for-51) with five RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases since April 19. Harper has reached base safely in 11 of these 13 outings, so fantasy managers should remain patient while the All-Star first baseman looks to get back on track.
Apr 18 2025Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Friday's 7-2 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper put the Phillies on the board in the first inning, when he took Sandy Alcantara deep to right field for a 418-foot, two-run home run. Harper is up to five home runs on the season, three of which have come over his last four games. He's slashing .264/.404/500 with 17 walks, four stolen bases, 14 runs scored and 11 RBI across 89 plate appearances.
Apr 16 2025Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Wednesday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper took a laboring Robbie Ray yard in the fourth inning to tie the game up at 4-4, powering a slider out of the strike zone and into the seats in right field. Through 81 plate appearances (18 games), Harper is slashing a healthy .269/.395/.478 with four big flies, two doubles, nine RBI and 11 runs scored. After stealing just seven bases in 145 regular-season games a year ago, the All-Star first baseman is already up to four steals in the early going.
Apr 15 2025Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper extended the Phillies' lead to three runs when he took Hayden Birdsong deep to right field for a 354-foot, two-run homer in the seventh inning. Harper has reached base safely in 11 straight games, and over that span he has gone 10-for-39 with 10 walks, five runs scored, one home run and four RBI.
Apr 9 2025Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks Wednesday in a 4-3 win against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper came up big for the Phillies in the seventh inning, crushing a two-run homer to center field to give the team a one-run lead. The star first baseman reached base three total times in the contest, and he's been able to get on base safely in all but one of his 11 games so far this season. Harper's long ball Wednesday was just his second this season, but he's been relatively productive with a .279/.380/.465 slash line, five RBI and seven runs.
Apr 7 2025Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a disastrous third inning for Tyler Glasnow, who allowed four walks and threw three wild pitches in the frame, Harper singled to drive in Rafael Marchan to get the Phillies onto the scoreboard. Harper also scored a game-tying run following a double in the seventh inning. It's been a relatively quiet start to the season for the perennial All-Star, who has just three extra-base hits, three RBI and zero stolen bases over 36 at-bats, but Harper is still hitting a healthy .278 with four walks across his first nine outings.
Mar 27 2025Harper went 1-for-4 with one home run, two runs scored and one walk in Thursday's 7-3 extra-inning win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After the Nationals lifted a dominant MacKenzie Gore on Opening Day, Harper greeted right-hander Lucas Sims with a solo shot to put the Phillies on the board in the seventh inning. It was Harper's first long ball of 2025, including spring training, as the superstar slugger went without a homer in the Grapefruit League but did hit a strong 12-for-41 (.293) with four RBI this spring.
Mar 14 2025Harper said recently that he would be willing to move back to right field if the Phillies were able to acquire an impact first baseman at the trade deadline, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported this week that Harper told the Phillies over the offseason he would be open to shifting to the outfield if the club could acquire a marquee first baseman. That never came close to happening, but the offer remains on the table should an opportunity present itself. Harper has turned himself into an excellent defensive first baseman and will, in all likelihood, remain at that position over the long haul, but having the flexibility and willingness to move back to right field could come in handy, both for the Phillies and for anyone with fantasy shares in the 32-year-old star.
Feb 27 2025Harper (triceps) will return to the Phillies' lineup for Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper exited Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays after being hit on the right triceps by a pitch, but the exit was precautionary. He had a scheduled day off Thursday and will be back in there Friday.
Feb 26 2025Harper sustained a bruised right tricep after getting hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Blue Jays, but Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he's "not over concerned" about the injury, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A Richard Lovelady offering caught Harper on the arm during a sixth-inning plate appearance, and the first baseman was immediately pulled from the game for a pinch runner. While Harper will be re-evaluated Thursday, the expectation is that he'll be fine moving forward. Harper was not going to play Thursday, regardless, and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday versus the Red Sox.
Feb 17 2025Harper will miss the Phillies' first full-squad workout Monday due to illness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Trea Turner is also away from the club because his wife recently gave birth. Turner is expected to join workouts Wednesday, and Harper will likely be ready by then, if not before.
Sep 29 2024Harper is absent from Sunday's lineup against Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper will begin Sunday's contest in the dugout as Alec Bohm starts at first base and bats fifth. Unless Harper pinch hits, he'll end the regular season with a slash line of .285/.373/.525 with seven stolen bases, 30 home runs and 87 RBI across 631 plate appearances.
Sep 18 2024Harper went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He took Frankie Montas deep in the sixth inning to break open a 1-1 tie, putting Harper one long ball short of his fifth career 30-homer campaign. The veteran slugger has been heating up with the playoffs looming, and over the last 11 games Harper is slashing .386/.426/.727 with six doubles, three homers, seven runs and eight RBI.
Sep 14 2024Harper went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Harper had gone 128 plate appearances without a home run before smacking a solo shot in the fourth inning. Despite the homer drought, the slugger has now tallied six multi-hit efforts and nine extra-base hits through 12 September contests. On the season, he is hitting .290 with 28 long balls, 82 RBI, 79 runs scored and five steals across 577 plate appearances.
Sep 5 2024Harper (elbow) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper had to make an early exit from Wednesday's contest after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, but his bruise won't be enough to prevent him from playing in Thursday's series opener. Over his last 10 games, the 31-year-old slugger has gone 13-for-34 with two RBI and four runs scored.
Sep 4 2024Harper was removed from Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to a left elbow contusion, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old stayed in the game after being hit by a pitch in the left elbow during the first inning, though he was replaced by a pinch hitter for his second plate appearance. Harper is being further evaluated, which could include medical imaging. He should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.
Aug 27 2024Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old played hero for the Phillies, walking it off with a 10th-inning single that brought home Kyle Schwarber as the phantom runner. Harper also has a two-bagger in four straight contests, and through 22 games in August he's slashing .287/.354/.460 with nine doubles, two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs.
Aug 18 2024Harper is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper will begin Sunday's game in the dugout. He's gone 0-for-7 with one walk and one strikeout over the last two games against Washington. Alec Bohm will man first base and bat third against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin.
Aug 5 2024Harper went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper reeled off a pair of singles earlier in the game before he gave the Phillies some breathing room with a two-run blast in the eighth to make it a 4-0 ballgame. Sunday was the ninth time Harper notched at least three hits in a game this season. He entered the game going just 2-for-38 at the dish with a 3:14 BB:K over his last nine games. Harper is still putting together a spectacular season, slashing .276/.370/.544 with 25 homers, 69 RBI, 62 runs, five steals and a 56:92 BB:K in 424 plate appearances.
Jul 22 2024Harper went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 7-2 loss at Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Philadelphia superstar opened the game's scoring with a titanic 424-foot, two-run homer off Bailey Ober in his first career at-bat in Target Field. After being slowed by hamstring and hand injuries to open this month, Harper is now hitting .242 (8-for-33) with three homers, seven runs scored, seven RBI and six walks in nine July games. Overall, the former MVP is slashing .297/.395/.578 across 375 plate appearances this season.
Jul 13 2024Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper's solo home run in the seventh inning marked a personal milestone, as he has now homered against all 30 major-league baseball organizations. He also walked twice and added a two-run double in his best effort since returning from the injured list July 9. With one game to go before the All-Star break, the National League's starting first baseman is hitting .303 with 21 home runs, 61 RBI, 55 runs and four steals across 354 plate appearances.
Jul 11 2024Harper (hand) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper suffered a bruised left hand during Tuesday's victory and ended up having to sit out Wednesday's contest, but the 31-year-old slugger is now feeling well enough to return to the field. He went 0-for-4 in his return from a stint on the injured list Tuesday but had slashed .423/.455/.865 with five homers and 12 RBI during a 12-game hitting streak prior to landing on the IL.
Jul 10 2024Harper (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his return from the 10-day injured list for Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers, Harper experienced no renewed complications with the hamstring injury that had previously sidelined him, but he suffered a bruise to his glove hand when it was struck by a Freddie Freeman line drive. Harper was still able to take part in pregame activities Wednesday, so the Phillies could just be holding him out of the lineup as a matter of precaution. Alec Bohm will cover first base in Harper's stead.
Jul 9 2024The Phillies activated Harper (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper spent the minimum 10 days on the IL while he recovered from a strained left hamstring. He'll be back in action for Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers, manning first base and batting third.
Jul 7 2024Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper (hamstring) is "in play" to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Thomson confirmed that Kyle Schwarber (groin) will be back with the big club Tuesday, the skipper was less certain that Harper will be ready to go for the start of the three-game series with the NL West leaders. On a positive note, Harper ran on the field for a second straight day Sunday, with Zolecki relaying that the first baseman appeared to be moving at close to 100 percent intensity. Harper has been on the IL since June 28 with a left hamstring strain, with his absence opening up regular playing time at first base for Kody Clemens against right-handed pitching.
Jul 6 2024Manager Rob Thomson said Saturday that Harper (hamstring) had a "good day" running the bases and will run the bases again Sunday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper has been dealing with a low-grade hamstring strain since June 27 but has been progressing well enough to potentially return prior to the All-Star break. The 31-year-old was participating in on-field drills at 70-75 percent intensity earlier this week and is slated to run the bases again Sunday. Harper becomes eligible to come off the injured list Tuesday.
Jul 4 2024Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Harper (hamstring) is currently able to go through drills at 70-to-75 percent intensity, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper is eligible for activation July 9 as he works his way back from a strained left hamstring. While the Phillies won't hesitate to activate Harper next week if he's ready, they do have the All-Star break looming the following week if they decide to give the first baseman a little more time.
Jun 28 2024The Phillies placed Harper on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper suffered the injury on the final play of Thursday's loss to the Marlins while running out a grounder. The good news is it's considered a low-grade strain and Harper might return as soon as July 9, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The Phillies could also play things cautiously and hold him out until after the All-Star break. While Harper is sidelined, Philadelphia will likely shift Alec Bohm over to first base and put Edmundo Sosa at third.
Jun 27 2024Harper felt hamstring tightness while running to first base in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Marlins, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper sustained the injury on a groundout to end the game. Manager Rob Thompson said no more details were known about the issue but that there would be more information Friday.
Jun 25 2024Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 4-1 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper provided the only offense for the Phillies, hitting a solo home run off Jason Foley in the ninth inning. It was the slugger's second consecutive day with a home run, and he has now gone a ridiculous 20-for-43 with five homers, 11 RBI and 13 runs scored over a current 10-game hitting streak. On the season, he is hitting .306 with 20 home runs, 57 RBI and 52 runs scored through 278 at-bats.
Jun 24 2024Harper went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run in Monday's win against Detroit, finishing with five RBI and three runs scored. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run double before icing the game with a three-run shot in the sixth. Harper stayed hot at the plate, extending his hitting streak to nine games. During the hitting streak, the 31-year-old is batting a scorching .462 (18-for-39) with four home runs, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored and one stolen base.
Jun 23 2024Harper went 4-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's 12-1 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old superstar launched back-to-back homers with Alec Bohm in the third inning, accounting for half of the Phillies' long balls in the contest. Harper is having one of his patented hot streaks -- he's hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games, slashing .404/.475/.731 over that stretch with five doubles, four homers, seven RBI and 12 runs, chipping in a steal for good measure.
Jun 19 2024Harper went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old slugger supplied all the Phillies' offense on the afternoon, taking Matt Waldron deep in the third inning before pulling a Jeremiah Estrada splitter down the right-field line in the eighth. Harper has caught fire in June, hitting safely in 10 of the last 11 games while batting .372 (16-for-43). The surge has boosted his slash line on the season to .285/.391/.539 with 17 homers, four steals, 45 runs and 48 RBI in 69 contests.
Jun 8 2024Harper went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After doubling in the first inning, Harper got the Phillies on the board in the fourth with a solo shot off Sean Manaea, his 15th homer this year. Harper had been slumping a bit prior to the Phillies' trip to London -- he'd gone 7-for-36 (.194) with just one home run in his previous 10 contests. Overall, the 31-year-old Harper is slashing .276/.384/.535 on the year with 45 RBI and 36 runs scored across 258 plate appearances.
Jun 1 2024Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and three total runs scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper provided the Phillies with extra breathing room, taking St. Louis reliever John King deep in the seventh inning. Over the previous 10 games, Harper took a small step back, batting .257 (9-for-35) with three home runs and seven RBI to close out May. Following his second consecutive multi-hit game, he's batting .276/.381/.538 with 14 homers, 44 RBI, 35 runs scored and three stolen bases over 54 contests this season.
May 25 2024Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper hit an RBI single in the first inning and added a three-run homer in the ninth that gave the Phillies all the offense they needed in the win. He's hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, going 16-for-46 (.348) with four homers and 12 RBI in that span. For the season, the 31-year-old is up to a .282/.389/.554 slash line with 13 homers, 41 RBI, 32 runs scored, three stolen bases and nine doubles over 48 contests.
May 21 2024Harper went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, a double and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper led off the fourth inning with a double before coming around to score on an Alec Bohm single, giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead. Harper would then extend the lead to 3-1 in the fourth with a 422-foot solo blast off Jacob Latz, his 11th long ball of the year. After a sluggish start to the year, the 31-year-old Harper has been on fire in May, batting .359 with five home runs, 18 RBI and a 1.111 OPS in 17 games. He's boosted his slash line to .280/.388/.537 through 196 plate appearances this season.
May 18 2024Harper went 1-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 4-3 extra-inning win against Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper singled, stole a base and came home on a double-play groundout in the fourth inning for Philadelphia's first run. He was retired his next two times at the plate before driving home the winning run with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th frame. Harper is batting .321 with four homers, 15 RBI, 14 runs and two stolen bases through 15 contests in May.
May 15 2024Harper went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, two total runs and three total RBI in Wednesday's 10-5 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper missed Tuesday's contest against New York due to a migraine, but he didn't show any lingering effects of the ailment upon his return to the lineup. The first baseman belted a solo homer to left field in his first at-bat, then plated a pair of runs with a double in the fifth inning. Harper had been in a mini slump coming into the game with a .190 average and just one RBI over his previous five contests, but he appears to be back on track. He's tied for eighth in the majors with 10 homers and ranks 10th with 32 RBI on the campaign.
May 14 2024Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday that Harper (migraine) will return to the lineup Wednesday against the Mets, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup after he developed a migraine, but his symptoms abated as the game versus the Mets went along and would have been available in a pinch-hitting capacity. He was not used off the bench, as it turned out, but he will be ready to roll for Wednesday's tilt.
May 8 2024Harper went 3-for-3 with a grand slam, scored twice and drew a walk during Tuesday's 10-1 victory over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old slugger singled and later scored on a Nick Castellanos double to get Philadelphia on the board in the first inning, and his fourth-inning grand slam gave the Phillies a massive 8-0 lead. Harper has now hit a home run in each of his last three contests, recording six total hits and 10 RBI in that span.
May 6 2024Harper went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run during Monday's 6-1 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper tagged Mason Black for a three-run home run in the sixth inning, marking the first baseman's second straight game with a three-run shot. In his last 11 games, Harper is batting .250 with four homers and has showcased quality plate discipline, drawing 13 walks and striking out 11 times.
Apr 25 2024Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Thursday's 5-0 win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After missing Philadelphia's last three games while on the paternity list, Harper returned with a bang Thursday, launching a two-run homer off Nick Martinez to extend the Phillies lead to 4-0 in the third inning. After a slow start to the year, Harper's starting to turn it around at the plate -- he's hit safely in his last seven games, going 10-for-24 with two home runs and nine RBI in that span. He's boosted his slash line to .256/.347/.488 with five homers and 16 RBI across 22 games this season.
Apr 22 2024The Phillies placed Harper (personal) on the paternity list ahead of Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per MLB rules, players placed on the paternity list have to miss between one and three games, so expect Harper to take the maximum amount of time to welcome in the newest addition to his family. Harper could link back up with the Phillies in Cincinnati on Thursday for the club's series finale with the Reds. Infielder Kody Clemens was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move.
Apr 16 2024Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Tuesday's 5-0 victory over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper extended the Phillies lead to 3-0 with an opposite-field double off Austin Gomber in the sixth inning before capping the scoring with a two-run homer off Tyler Kinley in the eighth. Harper's gone 3-for-7 with four RBI in his last two contests after going just 2-for-27 in his previous seven games. Overall, he's slashing .215/.301/.462 with four home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored through his first 17 games this season.
Apr 5 2024Harper went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI in Friday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After opening the season with a tough 0-for-11 streak, Harper has come alive this week. He tallied another three hits Friday including two doubles off the left-handed Nationals starter Patrick Corbin. Harper later added a run-scoring single in the seventh inning to notch his seventh RBI on the season.
Apr 2 2024Harper went 3-for-4 with three home runs and six RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper kicked off a monstrous evening with a solo blast his first time up and another to lead off the fourth. He then put the game out of reach with a grand slam in the seventh inning. Harper entered the day 0-for-11 at the plate through his first three games, and with Tuesday's historic performance, he erased any memory of his brief season-opening slump. It was the second three-homer game of his career and it led to a career-high six RBI for the 31-year-old.
Mar 31 2024Harper is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger remained in the game Saturday after taking a tumble over the camera well railing attempting to field a foul ball, but he won't be in the lineup for Sunday's series finale. Manager Rob Thomson said it's a scheduled off day, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, so Harper is apparently fine and should be back in the lineup Monday. He didn't see much action down the stretch in spring training due to a back issue and is off to a slow start, going 0-for-6 with two walks, a run and a stolen base in the first two games of the season. Alec Bohm will shift to first base while Edmundo Sosa receives a start at the hot corner.
Mar 23 2024Harper (back) is starting at first base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was able to take seven at-bats on a back field Friday, one of which resulted in him legging out an infield single. The 31-year-old slugger figures to be ready to go for Opening Day, but he has gone just 5-for-22 with three runs scored this spring.
Mar 22 2024Harper (back) had seven at-bats on a back field Friday and hopes to play first base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Matt Gelb of The Athleticreports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old was able to beat out an infield single, which seems to bode well for the back stiffness that's sidelined him for the past week. Harper returning to action this weekend would quell questions about his availability for Opening Day.
Mar 18 2024Harper (back) hopes to return to action Friday in either a Grapefruit League game or minor-league game, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies have held Harper out for a few days with soreness in his lower back, but he insists he's not worried about the injury and is just exercising caution. The 31-year-old is slated to be the Phillies' full-time first baseman this season after serving primarily as a designated hitter in 2023 following his return from his November 2022 Tommy John surgery.
Mar 17 2024Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper has been held out the past few days with back stiffness and won't play Monday, but the slugger is expected to rejoin the lineup later in the week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, as Thomson said there is "zero" concern for Harper's Opening Day availability. Still, with less than two weeks before the March 28 opener, it's worth keeping an eye on the 31-year-old's status over the next few days.
Feb 27 2024Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Harper is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday versus Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Thomson didn't specify whether Harper would be deployed at designated hitter Wednesday or if he would make his first start at first base, the position that he's slated to play on a full-time basis during the 2024 season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in November 2022, Harper never made enough progress in his throwing program for the Phillies to feel comfortable returning him to his familiar spot in right field this past season, with the 31-year-old instead serving as a DH upon being cleared to debut in May before he got some exposure to first base following the All-Star break. Since he ultimately made 36 starts at first base, Harper should already carry eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues in 2024, but he's no longer outfield-eligible and doesn't look poised to regain outfield eligibility even though his surgically repaired elbow is no longer a concern.
Nov 8 2023Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday that Harper will strictly play first base moving forward, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 information public. Dombrowski also said he relayed the news to Rhys Hoskins, who now seems certain to depart in free agency this winter.
Oct 1 2023Harper is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger didn't start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader and will sit again Sunday for the final game of the regular season with the Phillies looking toward the playoffs. Harper is likely to close the campaign with a .293/.401/.499 slash line, 21 homers, 11 steals, 72 RBI and 84 runs in 126 games.
Sep 30 2023Harper isn't in the Phillies' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 28 2023Harper was ejected from Thursday's game against the Pirates, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 27 2023Harper went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 24 2023Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 15 2023Harper was ejected from Friday's game against the Cardinals, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 11 2023Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Monday's loss against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 30 2023Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo homer and an additional run scored in Tuesday's victory over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper launched another no-doubt home run Tuesday, a solo shot that ricocheted off the second-deck façade to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning. His hot streak has boosted his season-long home run total to 14 to go along with a .309 batting average, .899 OPS, 53 RBI, 65 runs, and seven steals across 98 games.
Aug 29 2023Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Monday's win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. However, 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.
Aug 29 2023Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old launched a two-run home run 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. However, the fantasy standout has been delivering the punches lately, belting eight long balls and generating a stellar .375/.465/.819 slash line over his last 20 games.
Aug 23 2023Harper went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in Wednesday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 21 2023Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run in Monday's win over San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 17 2023Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 12 2023Harper (back) is starting as the Phillies' designated hitter Saturday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 11 2023Harper (back) isn't in the Phillies' lineup Friday against Minnesota, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 10 2023Harper was removed from Thursday's game against the Nationals due to back spasms, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was hit in the face by a ball that took a strange bounce off first base in the fourth inning, but his removal in the fifth was seemingly unrelated. The Phillies will take a closer look at Harper and should provide more updates in the near future, but for now he should be considered day-to-day.
Jul 31 2023Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 26 2023Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 21 2023Harper is making his first professional start at first base Friday as the Phillies take on the Guardians, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 18 2023Harper will again serve as the Phillies' designated hitter Tuesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 16 2023Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old was used only as a pinch hitter in the matinee with lefty 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.
Jul 15 2023Harper will be on the bench for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper could play first base at some point soon, but 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.
Jul 14 2023Harper could play first base as soon as this weekend, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 into defensive duties at a less strenuous spot 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.
Jul 9 2023Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 8 2023X-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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 30 2023Phillies 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper has been limited to DH duties following a swifter than expected return in early May from Tommy John surgery, but he's been getting pregame reps at first base and is about ready to make his defensive debut at the position. The two-time NL MVP has never made a start at first base at any level of pro ball, but if he's able to handle the assignment it will greatly help Thomson's game-to-game lineup construction, and the additional eligibility would be a welcome boost to Harper's fantasy profile.
Jun 18 2023Harper is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 14 2023Harper went 2-for-5 with a walk, two RBI, a run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 15-3 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper notched his second multi-hit effort and his second steal over his last three games. He has four RBI over that span and seven RBI in 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.
Jun 11 2023Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 30 2023Harper is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is 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.
May 26 2023Phillies 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper has increased his 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.
May 19 2023Phillies 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper continues to throw on the side and will soon increase the distance of those workouts to 90 feet, but the Phillies won't rush the 30-year-old slugger into any kind of defensive duty after he 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.
May 17 2023Harper went 1-for-4 with one run scored and one steal in Wednesday's loss to San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 14 2023Harper was ejected from Sunday's game against the Rockies, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 13 2023Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 12 2023Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 6 2023Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 3 2023Harper went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-6 loss against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 2 2023Harper (elbow) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his season debut Tuesday in a 13-1 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 1 2023Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed that Harper (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Thomson said that he wanted to give Harper off for Monday's series opener in Los Angeles because of a hectic schedule that included a doctor's appointment, but the two-time National League MVP will be ready to make his season debut 160 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The Phillies could give Harper a day off or two in his first couple weeks back in action since he didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment and is returning from surgery sooner than anticipated, but he should otherwise be a mainstay in the lineup at designated hitter beginning with Tuesday's contest. Harper began working out at first base a few weeks ago and could eventually be an option at that position, but playing the outfield is most likely off the table for him in 2023.
Apr 30 2023Harper (elbow) will see a doctor Monday and expects to return to the Phillies' lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers if he's cleared, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 28 2023Harper (elbow) hit on the field with his Phillies teammates Friday in Houston, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 5 2023Harper (elbow) took batting practice on the field before Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a positive step for Harper as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery he underwent in November. Matt Gelb of The Athletic cautions that Harper still has several hurdles to clear before being deemed ready for game action, as he has yet to be cleared to slide into bases since doctors believe there's still some risk of him rupturing the surgically-repaired elbow. Harper could be back from the 10-day injured list as soon as the latter part of May, as the Phillies' decision not to put him on the 60-day IL to begin the season had already implied.
Apr 2 2023Manager 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 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.
Mar 30 2023Harper (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 16 2023Harper (elbow) hit soft toss Thursday in Phillies camp, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, so he still has plenty of rehab work ahead of him.
Mar 9 2023Harper (elbow) hit off a tee for the first time Thursday in Phillies camp, Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Feb 23 2023Harper (elbow) progressed to taking dry swings Thursday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Harper's rehab is going "great" and 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.
Nov 23 2022Harper underwent Tommy John and ulnar nerve transposition surgery Wednesday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. He's expected to be sidelined for most of the first half of the 2023 season before returning to action as a designated hitter shortly before the All-Star break. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was always expected to require some sort of procedure to address the elbow injury that first cropped up last April, but it wasn't clear whether he would require Tommy John surgery. Now that he's had the surgery, Harper will 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. Since the lefty-hitting Harper will be available to hit before he completes a throwing program, the Phillies will bring him back as a DH, but the team is hopeful that he'll be ready to play right field late in the regular season.
Nov 16 2022Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday that Harper is scheduled to undergo elbow surgery Nov. 23 in Los Angeles, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 orthopedic 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" whenever the 30-year-old is deemed ready to make his 2023 debut. Even if that's the case, Harper could still be limited strictly to designated-hitter duties to begin 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.
Nov 7 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 upcoming evaluation should help guide those plans, though it could influence his readiness for spring training depending on what kind of surgery he requires, if any. In a worst-case scenario, Harper may need Tommy John surgery to fully repair the ligament, but even then, he would still likely be able to play on an everyday basis as a DH before potentially gaining clearance to play the outfield late in the 2023 campaign.
Nov 2 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 Vazquez 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.
Nov 1 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Oct 23 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Oct 22 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Oct 18 2022Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Padres in Game 1 of the NLCS. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 hit only three home runs in all of September and October, but his power surge is coming at the perfect time for the Phillies.
Oct 5 2022Harper isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 30 2022Harper went 3-for-4 in Thursday's loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 27 2022Harper went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 14 2022Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's victory over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 11 2022Harper went 1-for-4 with one homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 9 2022Harper is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 31 2022Harper went 3-for-4 with two walks, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 18-2 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 26 2022Harper went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in Friday's 7-4 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 25 2022Harper (thumb) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper isn't playing at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, but he'll go through a workout and is set to 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 should serve as the Phillies' everyday designated hitter once reinstated to the active roster.
Aug 22 2022Harper (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. Before he underwent surgery on his left thumb in late June, Harper hadn't made a start in the outfield since April 16 while recovering from a UCL sprain in his right elbow. He had his throwing program shut down earlier this month after experiencing renewed soreness in his elbow, so he's expected to serve exclusively as a designated hitter for the Phillies when he eventually comes off the 60-day injured list.
Aug 19 2022Harper (thumb) remains on schedule to begin a rehab assignment sometime next week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 18 2022The Phillies transferred Harper (thumb) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 his return isn't imminent 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 on or around Sept. 1. 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.
Aug 17 2022Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 15 2022Harper (thumb) took 60 swings Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 14 2022Harper (thumb) will take batting practice on the field Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.'
Aug 9 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 are not 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.
Aug 4 2022Harper (thumb) said Thursday he hopes to return from the injured list sometime in September, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 the 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.
Aug 1 2022Harper had his pins removed from his left thumb Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 25 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 6 2022Harper (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 there and play the game." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 29 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 perhaps heal up from that injury.
Jun 28 2022Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said Harper will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair his fractured left thumb, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 27 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 26 2022The Phillies placed Harper (thumb) on the 10-day injured list Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper suffered a fractured left thumb Saturday when he was struck by a 97 mile-per-hour fastball, so his move to the IL was a foregone conclusion. 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 while surgery remains a possibility, according to Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. 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.
Jun 25 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll undergo further examination in coming days. Given the nature of his injury, Harper's recovery time is expected to be measured in weeks, not days, though a specific timeline is not yet available. The star outfielder will likely be placed on the 10-day injured list soon to free up a spot on the 26-man roster.
Jun 23 2022Harper will have his elbow re-evaluated next week, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 22 2022Harper (hand) is starting Wednesday against the Rangers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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's gone 8-for-18 with two doubles, four runs, three RBI and a stolen base.
Jun 21 2022Harper (hand) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 is feeling better after recently receiving an antibiotic treatment for the infection and was able to hit in the cage, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. The slugger is also expected to be available off the bench to pinch hit Tuesday.
Jun 19 2022Harper (hand) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 18 2022Harper will sit Saturday against the Nationals due to an infected blister on his left hand, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 17 2022Harper isn't starting in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 12 2022Harper went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one steal in Saturday's win over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 11 2022Harper went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's victory over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After his three-hit effort Friday, Harper brought his hit streak to five games. He's been productive in June, picking up a hit in six of his last seven games, including four with multiple hits, bringing his June batting average to .407 and his season average to .317.
Jun 8 2022Harper went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 10-0 victory over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 5 2022Harper went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and a walk in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 3 2022Harper (forearm) is starting Friday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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's gone 4-for-20 with a double, two runs, an RBI, four walks and four strikeouts.
Jun 1 2022Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 25 2022Harper went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run in Wednesday's loss to the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 21 2022Harper (elbow) is starting Saturday against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper received a PRP injection last weekend to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow and was initially expected to be out of the lineup for 1-2 games, 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.
May 20 2022Harper (elbow) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 affected 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.
May 19 2022Harper (elbow) remains on the bench Thursday against the Padres, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper has been limited to serving as the designated hitter 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; he's hitting .305/.361/.634 with nine homers and six steals on the year. He received 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 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 to recover.
May 18 2022Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 17 2022Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 15 2022Harper (elbow) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 for the past month, and he's not expected to resume playing the field until at least mid-June. The injury hasn't had any effect 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.
May 13 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 12 2022Tests 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 10 2022Harper went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in Monday's 9-0 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 5 2022Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored Thursday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 1 2022Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 26 2022Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and a stolen base in a 10-3 win Tuesday over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 25 2022Harper went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 8-2 win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 22 2022Harper went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Friday's 4-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 18 2022Harper, 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, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 for now he'll remain in the lineup without playing the field, which pushes Nick Castellanos to right field.
Apr 17 2022Harper went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and two RBI in an 11-3 loss Sunday in Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 15 2022Harper went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Thursday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 13 2022Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 12 2022Harper will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and will bat third in Tuesday's game against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 2 2022Harper has crushed the ball this spring, hitting .346/.393/.846 with four homers in 10 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Nov 18 2021Harper was named the 2021 National League MVP on Thursday, Baseball Writers' Association of America reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Oct 4 2021Harper went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk Sunday in the Phillies' 5-4 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 26 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 19 2021Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI in the Phillies' 5-3 win over the Mets on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 16 2021Harper went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored Thursday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 12 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 5-4 loss to Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 11 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 8 2021Harper went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, two RBI and three walks in the loss to the Brewers on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 31 2021Harper went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's 7-4 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 28 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 25 2021Harper went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Wednesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 19 2021Harper went hitless across four plate appearances in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 12 2021Harper went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two walks Thursday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 9 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run -- his 20th of the season -- in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 5 2021Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Thursday's victory over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 3 2021Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's win against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 30 2021Harper (back) is starting Friday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 his last five games.
Jul 29 2021Harper was removed from Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals with back spasms, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 for now.
Jul 28 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 22 2021Harper (foot) is starting Thursday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 21 2021Harper will have an X-ray after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday against the Yankees, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder didn't exit the game, but he 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.
Jul 16 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 6 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 3 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI against the Padres on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 -- he's 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.
Jul 1 2021Harper went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 11-6 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 28 2021Harper (calf) is starting Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 27 2021Harper (calf) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old exited Saturday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the left calf, and he'll be out of the starting nine for at least one game. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Harper is dealing with some tightness in the calf but may still be available as a pinch hitter. Travis Jankowski will start in right field Sunday for the Phillies.
Jun 26 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 23 2021Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs and two walks in Wednesday's 13-12 loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 22 2021Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 18 2021Harper (back) is starting Friday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 16 2021Manager 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 15 2021Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with lower-back tightness, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 12 2021Harper went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 9 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks during Tuesday's 9-5 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 5 2021Harper went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 4 2021Harper has decreased swelling in his forearm but isn't ready to be activated from the injured list, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old was eligible to return from the injured list Wednesday, but he'll need more than the 10-day minimum to recover from a forearm contusion. Harper remains without an official timeline for his return, but based on comments from manager Joe Girardi, the outfielder is unlikely to be activated this weekend.
May 31 2021Phillies 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 25 2021Harper was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left forearm contusion, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There had been no prior indication of an injury to the star right fielder, but a miserable stretch at the plate followed by 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 some extra time off will be the key to overcoming his recent offensive and defensive woes.
May 24 2021Manager 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 23 2021Harper is out of the lineup Sunday against the Red Sox, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 19 2021Harper went 2-for-5 with two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 18 2021Harper (shoulder) will return to the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins, batting third and playing right field, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 16 2021Harper (shoulder) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 as he seeks to avoid missing more time. Scott Kingery will receive the start in right field for the Phillies on Sunday.
May 15 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old struck out in both plate appearances Saturday before being replaced in right field by Scott Kingery. According to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, manager Joe Girardi said "he isn't sure about" Harper playing Sunday, so it's wouldn't be surprising to see the outfielder on the bench.
May 14 2021Harper went 2-for-2 with a double, three walks and a run scored in Friday's 5-1 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 12 2021Harper went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 extra-inning win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 11 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 7 2021Harper (wrist) will bat third and play right field Friday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 6 2021Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 5 2021Harper (wrist) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 4 2021Harper (wrist) will remain on the bench Tuesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 is starting in right field in his absence.
May 3 2021Harper will not start Monday's game against Milwaukee after aggravating his sore wrist Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper's problems stem from a hit-by-pitch back on Wednesday that 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.
May 2 2021Harper (wrist/face) will start in right field and bat third Sunday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 1 2021Harper (wrist) will sit for the third straight game Saturday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper hasn't played since taking a 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.
Apr 30 2021Harper (face) is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets primarily due to a sore wrist, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 29 2021Harper will sit Thursday against the Cardinals after getting struck in the face by a pitch in Wednesday's contest. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was 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 it doesn't appear he'll require a trip to the injured list. Roman Quinn starts in right field in his absence.
Apr 28 2021Harper (face) underwent a CT scan and said "everything came back good" after leaving Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 26 2021Harper went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 12-2 loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 21 2021Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old continues to swing the bat well and has four straight multi-hit games, going 10-for-14 with two homers and four walks 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.
Apr 20 2021Harper went 3-for-4 with a stolen base in Monday's 2-0 loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. Nonetheless, Harper is off to a fast start in 2021, slashing .327/.459/.571 through 15 games with three homers, seven RBI and nine runs.
Apr 18 2021Harper went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, one double and one walk in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 17 2021Manager Joe Girardi said Harper (back) is considered day-to-day and might play Sunday against the Cardinals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 11 2021Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 10 2021Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's loss to the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 31 2021Harper finished with a .343/.477/.771 slash line to go with four home runs across 35 at-bats during Grapefruit League play. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 Harper's lofty standards, he 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. The 28-year-old continued to show a discerning eye at the dish this spring, drawing nine walks against 11 strikeouts.
Mar 11 2021Harper isn't expected to play the field until sometime next week, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 5 2021Harper mentioned on the Phillies' spring training broadcast Friday that he's on a throwing program but will throw to bases as soon as Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 1 2021Harper is still a few days away from making his Grapefruit League debut, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 23 2020Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 21 2020Harper (back) is starting Monday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 20 2020Harper left Sunday's loss to the Blue Jays with lower back stiffness, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 19 2020Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 17 2020Harper went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs and two walks in a loss to the Mets on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 13 2020Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old reached base five times in the victory. His night was highlighted by a leadoff solo home run to the opposite field in the third inning to extend Philadelphia's lead to 5-0. Harper is hitting .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.
Sep 4 2020Harper won't be in the lineup Friday against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 2 2020Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base Tuesday in the Phillies' 6-0 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 23 2020Harper went 1-for-2 with two walks, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 21 2020Harper is not in the lineup Friday against the Braves, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 20 2020Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 18 2020Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 11 2020Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and a walk Tuesday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 10 2020Harper went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 13-8 win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 5 2020Harper (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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 26 2020Harper went 1-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run against the Marlins Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 10 2020Harper 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. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Sep 28 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper is finishing the season on a strong note as he is 15-for-46 (.326 average) with four doubles, one triple, four home runs and 12 RBI in his last 13 contests. Overall the 26-year-old has a .259/.372/.511 slash line with 35 home runs, 114 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 156 games.
Sep 24 2019Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run across both games of the team's doubleheader Tuesday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper went 1-for-4 in the first of the Phillies' games Tuesday. While he was out of lineup for the second contest, he appeared as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and delivered his 34th home run of the campaign. Though he has posted a disappointing season from a power perspective, Harper is ending the season with a flourish, delivering three home runs and two doubles across his last eight games. Overall, he's hitting .258/.374/.505 across 657 plate appearances.
Sep 21 2019Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk, home run and four RBI on Saturday against the Indians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper took Oliver Perez deep in the fifth inning for a three-run home run. It was his third homer in his last 10 games, pushing his total to 33 on the season. While his power production doesn't rank among the elite this season, Harper has still found plenty of areas to contribute, highlighted by 108 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 148 games.
Sep 15 2019Harper was ejected from Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper was tossed from the dugout during the fourth inning as he voiced his displeasure with a called third strike earlier in the frame. The 26-year-old finishes his afternoon 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and is 8-for-39 so far in September.
Sep 11 2019Harper went 1-for-2 with two walks, run and stolen base in a 3-1 loss against the Braves on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old is right about where he was last season in terms of stolen bases. Actually, a lot of his numbers from last year compare to what he's done during his first campaign with the Phillies. Harper is batting .255 with 31 home runs, 102 RBI, 88 runs and 12 steals in 513 at-bats this year. While he only has 12 stolen bases, Harper has swiped four bags since Aug. 31.
Sep 9 2019Harper (hand) is starting in right field and hitting third Monday against the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies withheld Harper from the starting lineup over the weeked due to a hand injury he sustained Friday after getting hit by a pitch, but he's good to go for Monday's series opener after entering Sunday's game as a pinch hitter -- drawing an RBI walk in his lone plate appearance -- and experiencing no issues. The outfielder, who is slashing .281/.410/.500 with two home runs and four stolen bases over his past 10 games, will face righty Mike Foltynewicz in his return to the starting nine.
Sep 8 2019Harper (hand) remains on the bench Sunday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Harper will sit for the second straight game after getting struck in his right hand by a pitch Friday. It doesn't appear as though he'll miss too much more time, though, as he has a chance to be available as a pinch hitter Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Adam Haseley will start in right field in his absence.
Sep 7 2019Harper (hand) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: X-rays were negative after Harper was hit on his right hand by a pitch Friday, but he will miss at least one start. It's uncertain if he will be available off the bench. Adam Haseley is in right field Saturday with Scott Kingery in center and Brad Miller at third.
Sep 6 2019Harper's X-rays on his hand were negative Friday, Matt Ehalt of Yahoo Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The report lines up with early ones which held that Harper had escaped with nothing worse than a bruise after getting hit in the right hand by a pitch, which forced him to leave the game. It remains unclear if he'll miss any time.
Sep 2 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 7-1 victory against the Reds on Monday.
Sep 1 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in a 6-3 loss against the Mets on Saturday.
Aug 29 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI and three runs Wednesday in the Phillies' 12-3 rout of the Pirates.
Aug 26 2019Harper was reinstated from the paternity list Monday.
Aug 24 2019Harper is not in Saturday's lineup against the Marlins.
Aug 23 2019Harper was placed on the paternity list Friday.
Aug 21 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Red Sox.
Aug 20 2019Harper (illness) is starting in right field and hitting third Tuesday in Boston.
Aug 18 2019The Phillies relayed that Harper's removal from Sunday's game against the Padres was the result of dehydration, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Aug 16 2019Harper went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and two runs scored Friday night against the Padres.
Aug 15 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and a stolen base Thursday against the Cubs.
Aug 11 2019Harper went 1-for-3 with three walks and two RBI in Sunday's loss to San Francisco.
Aug 9 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, a walk and another run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over the Giants.
Aug 7 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Jul 24 2019Harper is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2019Harper went 2-for-3 with home run, two walks and and five RBI in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers, including a walk-off, two-run double.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2019Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and and five RBI in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers, including a walk-off, two-run double.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Harper went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, four RBI and an additional run in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 27 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 27 2019Harper will start in right field and bat third<\/a> Thursday against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Harper went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 20 2019Harper is starting in right field and hitting leadoff Thursday against the Nationals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2019Harper went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer in Friday's 9-8 loss to Atlanta.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 12 2019Harper will get his first day off<\/a> of the season Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 10 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run Sunday in the Phillies' 4-3 loss to the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in a 4-3 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 30 2019Harper went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI on Thursday against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 29 2019Harper went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBI, a double and a home run in Wednesday's 11-4 win over the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 28 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI on Tuesday against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 19 2019Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI on Sunday against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 17 2019Harper went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Friday's win over the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 16 2019Harper will start in right field and bat second<\/a> Thursday against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Harper is in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Brewers despite a sore knee.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 14 2019Harper said his left knee was a bit sore following Tuesday's loss to the Brewers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 7 2019Harper went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, walk and two runs scored Tuesday against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2018Harper (illness) will man center field and bat third against Milwaukee on Wednesday, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Harper was left out of Tuesday's lineup due to a stomach bug, though he was able to enter the game and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout during the extra-inning loss. He will not miss any additional time and should be fully operational for the series finale.
Jul 24 2018Harper was scratched from the Nationals' lineup for undisclosed reasons, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.It's unclear whether or not Harper is dealing with an injury. Michael Taylor will start in center field in his place.
Jul 24 2018Harper was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Brewers with a stomach bug, but may be available off the bench, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Fortunately it was just a minor ailment that caused him to be a late scratch. He was replaced in the lineup by Michael Taylor, and may make an appearance as a pinch hitter.
Jul 23 2018Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Braves.The slugger took Dan Winkler deep for a solo shot in the eighth inning, giving Harper 24 homers on the season. He's also now up to eight steals, having swiped a base in each of the first two games coming out of the All-Star break. It's been a rough campaign for the 25-year-old so far in terms of batting average, but he's still more than capable of going on a tear over the final months.
Jul 15 2018Harper is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mets.As one of the main attractions for Washington as it hosts the 89th MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, Harper will be get Sunday off to receive an early start on the festivities. Harper, who is slashing .184/.355/.388 across 14 games in July, will give way to Michael Taylor in center field in the series finale.
Jul 12 2018Harper went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Mets.Harper took southpaw Jerry Blevins deep in the seventh inning for his 23rd home run of the season. It marked only his sixth home run against left-handed pitchers this season, though he has managed a higher batting average and on-base percentage when he does not have the platoon advantage. Harper now has three home runs but has also struck out a troubling 17 times in 41 at-bats since the start of July.
Jul 10 2018Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's loss to the Pirates.Consistent contact remains an issue for Harper, who's hitting just .206 (7-for-34) over his last 11 games, but he's drawn 16 walks during that stretch and four of his hits have gone for extra bases (one double, three homers). He's already recorded his fourth straight 20-Hr campaign, and given his 22 home runs through 89 games, a healthy second half will give him a shot at his second career season with 40 or more.
Jun 30 2018Harper went 1-for-3 with three walks, three runs scored and three RBI in Friday's rout of the Phillies.The homer was his first since June 9 and his 20th of the season, moving Harper into a tie with Nolan Arenado for the National League lead. While he hasn't been putting the ball over the fence much, Harper has otherwise looked like his usual self recently, slashing .290/.465/.613 over his last 10 games with eight of his nine hits going for extra bases (seven doubles, one home run) and an 11:9 BB:K.
Jun 24 2018Harper went 3-for-5 with three doubles, two runs and an RBI to help the Nationals to an 8-6 win over the Phillies on Sunday.Harper's recent struggles have been well documented, but he finally looked like his old self in this one, lacing three two-baggers and playing a part in three of Washington's eight runs for the game. The .219/.356/.479 slash line is still far off the pace we know he's capable of, but it seems like it has to be a matter of time before Harper gets back to his old tricks. Hopefully this three-hit effort was a sign that he's gearing up for a vintage hot streak that will start to pump those numbers back up toward their usual levels.
Jun 13 2018Harper is in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees.Harper left Tuesday's game after getting hit in the foot by a pitch, but the issue was evidently a minor one as he won't have to miss a start. The Nationals must not be very concerned, as he'll have the added responsibility of manning center field Wednesday.
Jun 12 2018Manager Dave Martinez expects Harper (foot) to be in the lineup Wednesday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Harper was dealing with numbness in his left foot when he exited in the eighth inning after being hit by a pitch, but is apparently ready to return to the lineup. The 25-year-old underwent X-rays on his toe, which revealed no further issues, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports. Expect the Nationals to illustrate caution if any issues happen to crop up for Harper overnight, especially with an off day Thursday looming to offer an additional day of rest.
Jun 12 2018Harper left Tuesday's game against the Yankees in the eighth inning after being hit by a pitch on the left foot, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.Harper was also hit in the right elbow during the fifth inning, but stayed in the game despite appearing to be in a fair amount of pain, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports. The severity of the issue is unclear at this point, and Harper should be considered day-to-day for the time being.
Jun 8 2018Harper went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's loss to the Giants.Harper knocked in a pair of runs in the fifth inning with a single to right field, cutting the Giants' lead to two. He's struggled to hit for average through 61 games this season (.228), although he's smashed 18 home runs and driven in 42. Harper has yet to hit a home run in the month of June.
Jun 3 2018Harper is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves.Harper will sit for the first time since May 18 in what appears to be a routine day of rest following 15 consecutive starts, a stretch in which he slashed just .233/.309/.517 with five homers and 25 strikeouts. Brian Goodwin draws the right field assignment in Harper's absence.
May 30 2018Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Orioles.His third-inning shot down the left-field line gave Max Scherzer and Sean Doolittle all the offense they would need in the combined shutout. Harper now has 18 homers on the year including five in his last nine games, and his .297 batting average (11-for-37) over that stretch suggests he's beginning to shake out of his slump completely.
May 29 2018Harper was 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Baltimore.Harper started the scoring in the top of the first inning with the solo shot to right field, and added a pair of singles of Orioles starter Dylan Bundy in the third and fifth innings. The 25-year-old is not consistently finding hits and has now drawn only eight walks in May, after having 37 in April. Harper has an unbalanced .209/.277/.527 slash line in 91 at-bats in May, but does still have eight home runs (and 17 home runs for the season).
May 28 2018Harper went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Marlins.He also struck out twice, however, the fourth straight game in which Harper has fanned multiple times. With three homers in the last six games and 16 on the year, the 25-year-old is still supplying his expected power numbers, but his unexpected contact issues have dragged his batting average down to .232. Harper is one tweak in his swing away from erupting, but his current form may present a window to trade for him at a slight discount.
May 22 2018Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Padres.Harper took left-hander Eric Lauer deep in the fifth inning for his 15th home run of the season. He has now recorded a home run in consecutive games, marking the fifth time he has accomplished that this season. It's notable that his home run Tuesday came against a left-hander, as he had just a .321 slugging percentage across 53 at-bats when he did not have the platoon advantage entering the game.
May 22 2018Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run and two RBI in Monday's win over the Padres.Teenage phenom Juan Soto homered on the first pitch of his first big-league start and mimicked Harper's hair flip when he got back to the dugout, so the man himself had little choice but to respond with a blast of his own. Harper's .231 batting average and .196 BABIP on the season remain far below his usual standards, but there's still plenty of time for them to improve, and his 14 home runs still puts him in the National League lead.
May 14 2018Harper went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks.The slugger started to come out of his slump during the four-game road series against Arizona, going 5-for-18 with two doubles and his 13th homer of the season "Slump" is a relative term when it comes to players like Harper, of course -- he's hitting only .216 in May with a .259 OBP, but that comes with a .569 SLG thanks to five long balls in 12 games.
May 9 2018Harper is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.Harper is hitless over his last 19 at-bats, so he'll head to the bench for his first breather of the season while Moises Sierra picks up a start in right field. Despite the slump, the 25-year-old is still hitting .230/.410/.541 with 12 homers and four stolen bases through 37 games this season. Look for him to rejoin the starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Diamondbacks.
May 4 2018Harper went 2-for-5 with two home run and three RBI in Friday's 7-3 win over the Phillies.He took Nick Pivetta yard in the first and second innings, the latter of which traveled an estimated 473 feet. Harper now has 12 home runs on the season, including four in his last four games, and the impending return of Anthony Rendon (toe) to the lineup could give manager Dave Martinez the excuse he needs to move Harper back to the heart of the order from his current leadoff spot.
May 2 2018Harper will lead off and play right field for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.Harper will remain in the top spot after going 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk during Tuesday's contest as the leadoff hitter. It remains to be seen whether Harper will continue spending time in this position for the foreseeable future, but either way, the outfielder is sure to produce.
May 2 2018Harper went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Pirates.Manager Dave Martinez's decision to move Harper to the leadoff spot has paid immediate dividends, as the slugger went yard for the second straight game and 10th time this year. Wednesday's blast was also his first career leadoff homer, pushing his slash line back up to .268/.464/.598.
May 1 2018Harper went 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, two runs and a walk Tuesday against the Pirates.Harper, who assumed leadoff duties Tuesday, had been in a bit of a power drought recently, with his last extra-base hit coming over two weeks ago on April 16. He's also seen his batting average plummet 65 points during that cold stretch to a pedestrian .250 mark. Despite his relative lack of hits, the star slugger still owns a truly elite .459 on-base percentage as one of the most feared hitters in the majors.
May 1 2018Harper has been bumped up to the leadoff spot Tuesday against the Pirates.It's the first time Harper has hit anywhere other than third this season and the first time he's led off since 2013. Harper is certainly an unconventional leadoff hitter given his immense power, but his .458 on-base percentage is obviously excellent for a table-setter. If Harper starts leading off on a regular basis, he'd trade RBI for runs, a largely neutral move for fantasy purposes, though his total number of plate appearances would increase, giving him more chances to hit home runs.
Apr 17 2018Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Monday's 8-6 win over the Mets.While his bases-loaded single in the eighth inning was a more crucial blow in the contest, as it kick-started the Nats' six-run comeback, it's Harper's first-inning solo shot off Jacob deGrom that will be on repeat in highlight packages for a while -- despite being sawed off by an inside fastball that broke his bat at the handle, he still muscled the ball over the fence to right-center and trotted around the bases holding the stump. Harper now leads MLB with eight home runs while sporting an otherworldly .315/.487/.778 slash line.
Apr 16 2018Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks and a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Rockies.Tyler Anderson gave him one hittable pitch in the first inning, and the Rockies were careful not to make that mistake again for the rest of the game. Harper leads the majors with seven homers through 16 games, and his 14 RBI and 15 runs are even more impressive considering how often he's been pitched around -- he also leads MLB with 20 free passes.
Apr 9 2018Harper went 3-for-4 with two walks, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Mets.The slugger already has six homers and 12 RBI through nine games to begin the season, and other teams have noticed -- Harper's also been walked 13 times against only five strikeouts. Staying healthy is always a concern, but if Harper can suit up for 150 or more games this year, something he's only done once in his career so far, a truly historic performance at the plate could be the result.
Apr 7 2018Harper hit his fifth homer of the season in Saturday's loss against the Mets.Harper's homer was a sixth-inning solo shot off of Hansel Robles. It gave the Nationals a 2-1 lead, which they relinquished the following inning. Harper is on a tear to start the year, with five home runs and a .292/.486/.917 line through his first eight games.
Apr 3 2018Harper went 1-for-2 with four walks, a three-run home run and two additional runs scored in Monday's 8-1 win over the Braves.The 25-year-old superstar is absolutely locked in at the plate to begin the season. Not only does Harper have three homers and seven RBI through four games, he's drawn six walks and has yet to strike out. It's no wonder Atlanta's organist greeted him with the Imperial March from Star Wars when he came to the plate Monday. With a massive free-agent payday awaiting him in the offseason, Harper has all the incentive he needs to post huge numbers in 2018.
Apr 1 2018Harper hit two solo home runs, his first of the season, in a 2-for-4 game Sunday against the Reds.Harper was productive in his first two games, going 2-for-6 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI, but Sunday marked his first explosive performance of 2018. Harper still has yet to prove he can consistently replicate the massive power numbers of his age-22 season, when he clubbed 42 home runs with a .649 slugging percentage. Sunday's effort serves as a good start in that direction.
Mar 30 2018Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 2-0 win over the Reds.Incredibly, this was only the second out of Harper's six career Opening Days in which he didn't hit a home run, but Cincinnati's pitchers still couldn't keep him off the bases, even if they did keep him in the park. In his final season before free agency, expect the 25-year-old to put up some very impressive numbers if he can avoid the injuries that have checkered his career to date.
Mar 14 2018Harper went 2-for-2 with two walks, a double, two runs scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.He looks locked in this spring, rapping out 10 hits in 27 at-bats with three doubles and a homer. If Harper can avoid the injuries that dragged him down in 2016 and cut short his 2017 season, another MVP-caliber campaign should be in the works, but that injury history makes him a riskier option than many other elite fantasy bats.
Mar 5 2018Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, a second run scored and three RBI in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.He yanked a two-run bomb to right field off Alex Wilson for his first homer of the spring. Harper had trouble staying healthy again last season, but his 1.008 OPS was the second-best mark of his career, and if he can stay on the field for 150-plus games he should once again figure prominently in the NL MVP discussion.
Mar 4 2018Harper got the start at DH and hit third in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a walk.His toe didn't seem to bother him at all, and Harper even attempted a steal after getting his free pass, although it was wiped out by a foul ball. Look for him to be back in the outfield very soon, and the minor procedure he had for an ingrown toenail should be a distant memory by Opening Day.
Mar 1 2018Harper underwent a minor procedure for his ingrown toenail but could be back on the field as soon as Saturday, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.Harper had a similar procedure in 2013 when he was dealing with an ingrown toenail as well, and that only caused him to miss one game. Manager Dave Martinez said that Harper wanted to get back on the field Friday, but the club doesn't want to push anything with there being no reason to rush him back.
Feb 28 2018Harper will not play against the Marlins on Wednesday due to an ingrown toenail, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.Harper should be considered day-to-day while dealing with this minor issue. The outfielder is coming off another excellent season, hitting .319/.413/.595 with 29 home runs and 87 RBI in 111 games, but he did miss a significant portion of the year after suffering a bone bruise to his knee in August. Victor Robles will take over in right field versus Miami in his stead.
Sep 29 2017Harper is in the lineup but will likely only play six or seven innings during Friday's game against the Pirates, The Washington Post's Jorge Castillo reports.In addition, manager Dusty Baker stated that Harper is unlikely to play all nine innings of any game this weekend while he continues to work his way back from a knee injury. Harper was recently activated from the disabled list Tuesday, and played two straight games before taking the day off for Thursday's series opener.
Sep 28 2017Harper is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.Harper, who returned from a long-term knee injury earlier in the week, is apparently feeling a little sore after playing in back-to-back games, so he'll get the day off as the Nationals play it safe with him ahead of the playoffs. In his place, Victor Robles will start in right field and bat second.
Sep 26 2017Harper will play right field and hit second in the Nationals' batting order Tuesday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Tuesday's game will be just the sixth this season Harper has spent in the two hole, but it remains to be seen if he will stay there moving forward, as manager Dusty Baker may just be looking to maximize his at-bats while leaving Trea Turner atop the lineup.
Sep 26 2017According to a source familiar with the situation, Harper (knee/illness) is feeling better and plans to be in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Harper, who has been sidelined since Aug. 12 with a knee injury, was expected to come off the disabled list prior to Monday's series opener against the Phillies, but his return was delayed by a day due to an illness. He's reportedly feeling better Tuesday, so it sounds like he should make his long-awaited return to the starting lineup. It's unclear if the Nationals will deploy Harper in an everyday role right away, but that will likely depend on how he checks out after his initial appearances.
Sep 26 2017The Nationals activated Harper (knee) from the disabled list Tuesday, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.Harper is ready to get back on the field after missing roughly a month and a half with his knee injury. It remains to be seen where he will slot into the lineup, but it's a good bet he mans right field and hits third in the Nationals' batting order.
Sep 25 2017Harper was not activated from the disabled list and isn't in Monday's lineup due to an illness, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.Although it had looked like Harper was poised to return to action Monday and play in his first game since Aug. 12, the Nationals will have to wait a bit longer before activating their star right fielder from the DL. While fantasy owners and the Nationals alike would be thrilled to have Harper back in the lineup as the season winds down, it's still possible that he could return before the regular season comes to an end. More information regarding Harper's eventual activation should be available soon, as it's expected that he'll be lifted from the DL once he's no longer feeling under the weather. Jayson Werth is starting in right field and hitting fifth Monday night.
Sep 25 2017The Nationals plan to activate Harper (knee, calf) from the 10-day disabled list prior to Monday's series opener against the Phillies, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Harper was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee and a left calf strain after slipping on first base in an Aug. 12 game, which had made it uncertain whether he'd be able to return to action before the end of the regular season. Fortunately for the Nationals, the star outfielder proved to be a quick healer and is now expected to get a week's worth of games in before the postseason gets underway. It's unclear if the Nationals will be comfortable with deploying Harper in an everyday role right off the bat, but if his knee and calf check out fine in his initial appearances, manager Dusty Baker would likely feel comfortable using the former MVP regularly in the playoffs. Harper's return will also force Baker to make some tough decisions with his outfield, as Jayson Werth and Howie Kendrick will likely have to compete with one another for starts in left field.
Sep 23 2017Harper (knee) played in another simulated game Saturday and is ready to advance to the next step in his recovery, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.The Nationals are waiting to determine exactly what the next step for Harper will be, but he made it through simulated games the last two days without issue, so he is at least ready to face live pitching again, and could be ready to rejoin the big-league club. The team figures to provide more details on Harper's status over the next day or two.
Sep 22 2017Harper (knee) spent time taking fly balls in the outfield, running the bases and hitting during batting practice prior to Washington's game against the Mets, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Manager Dusty Baker said that the club will determine the next step for Harper following his simulated game Saturday, which will mark his second "live hitting" session since landing on the disabled list in mid-August. In the meantime, the club hasn't released much information regarding a timetable for his return, besides saying that he could be back as early as next week, as long as all goes well this weekend.
Sep 20 2017Harper (knee) is feeling good following Monday's full workout, and was out running the bases and competing in another workout prior to Washington's contest Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports reports.Harper will continue to ramp up his efforts in the coming days with a simulated game pegged for this weekend, and remains optimistic about returning to the field before the end of the regular season. The club is stressing that his status remains in a "day-to-day" state but acknowledged Tuesday that he could be back in action as soon as next week.
Sep 19 2017Harper will play in another simulated game in New York over the weekend, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.Harper continues to trend in the right direction, as manager Dusty Baker said he was impressed with the way Harper looked in a simulated game Tuesday. The key remains how Harper feels Wednesday, however; if everything checks out, the 24-year-old will get a couple of days to rest before participating in another simulated contest over the weekend. If all goes well, general manager Mike Rizzo acknowledged Harper could return before the end of the regular season, though Rizzo maintained that the Nationals are taking things day-to-day. Obviously the Nationals won't push him to return given they've already clinched a playoff berth, but they'd like to get him some game action before the postseason rolls around.
Sep 19 2017Harper (knee) was able to take batting practice again Tuesday, and the Nats are optimistic he'll be able to return next week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.Harper originally said he had his eye on returning for Game 1 of the NLDS, but after taking a few days of batting practice on the field, it appears he could return before the regular season concludes. The Nationals won't push him to return seeing as they've already clinched a playoff birth, but they most likely want to get a few games under his belt before October rolls around. Harper has been sidelined since mid-August with a knee injury, so even if he does return before the postseason, the Nats would likely use him cautiously in the last week.
Sep 17 2017Harper (knee) took batting practice on the field for the first time Sunday and is hoping to return for Game 1 of the NLDS, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.The timetable for Harper remained unclear to this point, but it appears the star right fielder is just aiming to be ready by the time the postseason rolls around. It makes sense for him to take his recovery slow with the Nationals having already clinched a playoff berth, but an absence through the remainder of the regular season would have a monumental impact during the stretch run of the fantasy season.
Sep 13 2017Harper (knee) has advanced to soft toss and hitting off a tee in recent days and is participating in "some light running" prior to Wednesday's game against the Braves, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Harper continues to progress from a knee injury that has sidelined him since mid-August. It's a positive sign that Harper has been able to expand his exercises, but it appears as though he still has a little ways to go before getting back on the field. A better sense of a timetable should develop for Harper's return once he's cleared to take live batting practice.
Sep 5 2017Harper (knee) played catch from about 30 feet Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.This was a very minor catch session, but it was the first time Harper has played catch since the injury. He also walked the stadium stairs with team trainers, which, according to Zuckerman, is the most exercise Harper has done in a while. The pessimistic comments from the team last week about Harper being "a long ways from running" still carry weight, but it seems like he is making very gradual progress.
Aug 30 2017Harper (knee) is still "a long ways from running" according to manager Dusty Baker, Chelsea Janes reports.Although the outfielder has been able to resume his exercises in recent days, he revealed that he's dealing with a calf strain that occurred on the same play that he suffered the hyperextended left knee, which makes it apparent that there's still a lengthy journey ahead. Harper hasn't been able to do any drills on the field at this point, and with no clear return date set on the horizon, Baker will give Jayson Werth some time in right field while preparing for a situation in which Harper is unable to make it back in time.
Aug 29 2017Harper (knee) is no longer walking with a limp and has resumed exercising, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports.It sounds like Harper is starting to make some progress from the significant bone bruise in his left knee that he sustained Aug. 12, but since he's yet to do any on-field work, a return from the 10-day disabled list doesn't seem to be imminent. Even so, the Nationals remain optimistic that the outfielder will be back on the field before the end of the regular season and enter the postseason at full strength. Because of his uncertain return timeline, Harper makes for a difficult hold in shallower formats, but those in deeper leagues should continue to stash him on the bench in the event he's able to get in a week or two worth of games before the season draws to a close.
Aug 23 2017Harper has seen improvement in his bruised knee and was walking with less of a limp Tuesday, but is not yet ready to resume baseball activities, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Until he's able to begin doing agility drills and swing a bat, there won't be any sort of concrete timetable for Harper's return to action. Given the Nats' big lead in the NL East, they have no reason to rush their star right fielder back, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him back in the lineup sometime in September with just enough time to shake off any rust before the playoffs begin.
Aug 13 2017Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo reported Sunday that Harper has a "significant bone bruise" in his left knee but that he avoided any ligament damage, Gabe Lacques of USA Today reports. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list.This appears to be a near best-case scenario for the Nationals and Harper's fantasy owners alike, as the superstar right fielder has seemingly avoided a serious knee injury after exiting Saturday's contest prematurely. The team has not released a timetable for his eventual return, but they are confident that the injury is not season-ending. He'll be placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday and his status moving forward will likely depend on how quickly the bone bruise heals. Michael Taylor (oblique) was activated from the DL in a corresponding move.
Aug 13 2017Harper will undergo an MRI on Sunday as the Nationals look to assess the severity of the hyperextended left knee he suffered in the first inning of Saturday's 3-1 win over the Giants, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.Harper required assistance off the field after he slipped on the top of first base awkwardly while trying to beat out an infield grounder during his first at-bat of the game. Given that Harper looked to be in considerable pain, it seems quite likely that he'll land on the disabled list as a result of the injury, but the Nationals won't have a timetable for his recovery until the MRI results are read. Harper's likely absence would represent yet another hit to the Nationals' dwindling outfield depth, as Jayson Werth (foot) and Michael Taylor (oblique) are already on the disabled list along with Adam Eaton (knee), who has been ruled out for the season.
Aug 12 2017Harper was helped off the field Saturday after suffering an apparently serious left knee injury while lunging to try to beat out a groundball, Jorge Castillo of The Washington PostHe appeared to slip slightly when he stretched out and touched first base, and then his left knee twisted in an ugly manner. Harper could put no weight on his left leg and need assistance to leave the field. This certainly seems like the type of injury that could mean the end of Harper's 2017 campaign. His status will be updated when the team makes a formal announcement as to the exact nature of the injury.
Aug 10 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 10-1 rout of the Marlins.It's his fourth multi-hit performance in the last six games, and Harper has a .375/.393/.625 slash line over that stretch with two homers, six runs and six RBI. With an NL East title and possible NL Triple Crown in his sights, expect the 24-year-old superstar to remain locked in over the final weeks of the season.
Aug 8 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's win over the Marlins.His 29th homer of the year, and 150th of his career, was a majestic blast to right-center on a first-pitch curve from Odrisamer Despaigne in the fourth inning. Harper is heating up again with seven hits and two home runs in his last four games and he still remains within striking distance of an NL Triple Crown, sitting fourth in batting average (.327), tied for fourth in homers (29) and fifth in RBI (82).
Aug 5 2017Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored in Saturday's loss to the Cubs.The homer, a first-inning shot off John Lackey, was Harper's first since July 27. With a .327/.424/.620 slash line, 28 home runs, 88 runs scored, 81 RBI and 64 walks through 100 games, Harper is well on his way toward winning the NL MVP, which would be the second of the 24-year-old's career.
Jul 30 2017Harper is not in the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports.Harper went 0-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts in the matinee game, so he'll head to the bench to get the rest of the night off. Brian Goodwin will move over to right field to replace him, allowing Andrew Stevenson to pick up a start in center field.
Jul 27 2017Harper clubbed two homers in a 3-for-5 showing Thursday against the Brewers.The superstar was lifted after six innings of utter dominance by the Nationals, but Harper managed to leave his mark with a two-run home run in the first inning and a solo shot in the third. He also added an RBI double, helping him drive in four runs total. Harper now has a .338 batting average, 27 homers, 79 RBI and 86 runs scored on the season, keeping him in the upper echelon of hitters in the league.
Jul 19 2017Harper went 4-for-4 with a triple, a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's win over the Angels.Round one of this week's marquee showdown with Mike Trout went to the Nats slugger. Harper now has four homers in his last five games and has already matched last season's total with 24 blasts through 86 games.
Jul 19 2017Harper will sit Wednesday against the Angels, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.It's a disappointing off day for baseball fans, as many were excited to see a second night of the Trout vs. Harper battle. Instead, Harper will get the night off a day after going 4-for-4 and falling a double short of the cycle.
Jul 18 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run in Monday's win over the Reds.The homer was his third in four games since the All-Star break and 23rd of the year. Harper's also reached back in 20 consecutive games, slashing .390/.500/.662 over that stretch with five home runs, 17 RBI and 20 runs. The only disappointing thing about the 24-year-old superstar's campaign has been his two steals in four attempts, but when you're posting a 1.048 OPS there's little reason to risk injury on the basepaths.
Jul 8 2017Harper will bat second in the order for Saturday's contest against the Braves, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper moves up a spot in the batting order for the second time in the past month. With Michael Taylor (oblique) landing on the disabled list prior to Friday's game, there isn't a clear cut answer for who manager Dusty Baker should stick into the two-spot, so he will give Harper the opportunity while Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, and Anthony Rendon each move up a spot to go 3-4-5 in the order.
Jul 5 2017Harper is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mets, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.The young superstar hasn't gotten a day off for over a month, so he'll head to the bench for Wednesday's series finale. Brian Goodwin will slide over to right field to replace him, while Adam Lind fills the void in left field.
Jul 4 2017Harper went 3-for-4 with a walk, a pair of RBI and three runs against the Mets on Tuesday.The Nats, playing at home in the nation's capital, provided an Independence Day beatdown to the Mets in this one, and Harper was right in the middle of it, as usual. After a down year in 2016, he's gotten right back to looking like his megastar self from the 2015 campaign.
Jul 2 2017Harper went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in Sunday's 7-2 win over St. Louis.The superstar took Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez deep in each of his first two at-bats, which is all Nationals ace Max Scherzer would need en route to a 12-strikeout victory -- his 10th of the year. The pair of bombs snapped an 11-game drought for Harper, who has now reached the 20-homer plateau for the fifth time in six seasons.
Jun 28 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Cubs.It's been eight games since his last homer but Harper's hardly been quiet at the plate during that stretch, hitting .333 (11-for-33) with five RBI. It's only a matter of time before the 24-year-old adds to his 18 home runs on the season.
Jun 27 2017Harper went 3-for-5 in Monday's loss to the Cubs.He nearly had a fourth hit but was absolutely robbed on a screaming line drive that might have been a double into the left-center gap if not for Javier Baez's leaping grab. Harper seems locked in at the plate right now, hitting .357/.426/.476 over his last 10 games, and it could be just a matter of time before he produces a home run binge to go along with all those singles.
Jun 26 2017Harper went 3-for-3 with a walk and a double in Sunday's loss to the Reds.A stagnant offense around him left Harper without any RBI or runs despite his strong performance. After seeing his 13-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday, he's come right back with three hits in his last three games, keeping his OPS in four digits at 1.011.
Jun 20 2017Harper went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Monday's loss to the Marlins.His first-inning blast, Harper's 18th homer of the year, staked the Nats to an early lead which Tanner Roark quickly squandered. The 24-year-old superstar is working on a 12-game hitting streak during which he has a .320/.404/.560 slash line with three homers, eight RBI and eight runs.
Jun 16 2017Harper went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Friday's 7-2 win over the Mets.He extended a modest hitting streak to nine games with the performance, and Harper's now batting .342 (13-for-38) over that stretch with two homers, six RBI and seven runs. The 24-year-old barreled the ball all night Friday, and seems poised to go on another massive run similar to his dominant April when he posted a 1.281 OPS.
Jun 15 2017Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Thursday's win over the Mets.Harper now sports an eight-game hitting streak, but he has just a single multi-hit game during the stretch. Still, the star is up to a .314/.422/.614 slash line with 17 homers, 50 RBI and 53 runs. He's a set-and-forget fantasy option, and after a disappointing 2016 campaign, it's encouraging to see Harper back among the league's elite contributors.
Jun 13 2017Harper went 1-for-4 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's loss to the Braves.It was his first homer since May 26 and 16th of the season. Harper cooled down somewhat in the second half of May and hasn't yet fully rebounded, but his .273/.390/.455 slash line so far in June would still be impressive for almost any other player. Expect the 24-year-old to go on another home run binge at any time.
Jun 10 2017Harper is batting second in the lineup for Saturday's affair versus the Rangers, Dan Kolko of MASN reports.Instead of his regular placement in the three-hole, Harper will be playing in right and batting second, behind Trea Turner and ahead of Daniel Murphy on Saturday. Although this is a minor adjustment, Harper could stay in this position depending on its success, especially with Jayson Werth (toe) out at least another week.
Jun 8 2017Harper was 3-for-4 with one RBI, a walk and one strikeout Thursday against the Orioles during the Nationals' 6-1 win.Thursday was the epitome of what Harper is capable of as a superstar in this league. However, Harper was 2-for-13 following his suspension for charging the mound last week before Thursday. Consider it a good sign he seems acclimated back to the daily swing of things.
Jun 5 2017Harper went 0-for-2 with three walks, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 11-10 win over the A's.He didn't put the ball in play in his first game back from a suspension, as Harper struck out in his other two plate appearances, but he still made an impact. The 24-year-old phenom will take a .324/.441/.648 slash line into a three-game road series against the Dodgers beginning Monday.
Jun 4 2017Harper (suspension) is batting third and playing right field during Sunday's game against the Athletics, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Harper served his three-game suspension following his bout with Hunter Strickland and is set to rejoin the heart of the Nationals' potent lineup. The superstar right fielder should pick up where he left off as he looks to build on his ridiculous 179 wRC+.
May 31 2017Harper had his suspension reduced to three games and will begin serving it Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.Harper appealed his suspension immediately after it was handed out, and he managed to shave one day off of the original sentence. With the superstar beginning to serve the suspension Wednesday, the earliest he can return to the lineup would be Sunday in Oakland. In the meantime, Brian Goodwin seems to be in line for an uptick in playing time.
May 30 2017Harper has been suspended four games for his role in Monday's brawl, but he will appeal, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Until he hears back from the commissioner's office regarding the appeal, Harper will be allowed to continue playing for Washington as normal. He will presumably be in his usual spots Tuesday to take on Jeff Samardzija, as Harper was said to be unharmed coming out of Monday's game. Hunter Strickland, who hit Harper on the hip with a fastball, received a six-game ban.
May 29 2017Harper did not suffer an injury in his brawl with the Giants and Hunter Strickland on Monday, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Harper said the only thing he noticed after the fight was a scratch on his arm, which he attributed to teammate Anthony Rendon's attempts to get him out of the scuffle. A suspension may still be coming, but don't expect Harper to miss any time due to injury.
May 28 2017Harper is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Padres, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.Harper will take a seat for the series finale, joining the bench along with Jayson Werth, Matt Wieters and Daniel Murphy. It will be Harper's first day off since May 6, costing fantasy owners a favorable matchup against soft-tossing right-hander Jhoulys Chacin.
May 26 2017Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer Friday against the Padres.Harper's 15th blast of the year provided the Nationals with a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning of a home victory. Although he suffered through a poor 2016 season, he's back to being one of the top fantasy options in the league.
May 23 2017Harper went 1-for-4 with a home run in Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Mariners.Harper took a 1-1 offering from Christian Bergman over the center field fence during an eight-run fourth inning, putting his name atop the National League Home Run list with 14 in the process. The 430-foot bomb broke Harper out of a mini slump, as he was just 2 for his last 22. Look for the 2015 NL MVP to continue to put up big numbers for the Nats.
May 17 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.PNC Park was the last remaining National League park Harper had never homered in coming into this series, but the 24-year-old scratched it off his list with a no-doubt blast off Wade LeBlanc in the ninth inning, his 13th long ball of the season and fourth in the last seven games.
May 15 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his 12th of the season, in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Phillies.He followed that up by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the nightcap to help the Nats split the twin bill. Despite his huge start to the season Harper has somehow found another gear recently, slashing .417/.481/.875 with three homers, seven RBI and five runs over his last six games.
May 14 2017Harper went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run, walk-off home run during Saturday's 6-4 win over the Phillies.He also scored a second run, giving him an incredible 39 runs through 32 games to go along with 11 homers and 31 RBI. Harper's heroics capped a day in which he signed a record-breaking one-year deal to avoid arbitration in 2018, but $21.65 million could look like a relative bargain next season given his current .368/.493/.726 pace.
May 13 2017Harper agreed to a one-year contract with the Nationals on Saturday worth $21.65 million, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.Harper has been a major catalyst for the Nationals throughout his tenure in the big leagues, so Washington decided to reward him for all his efforts with the biggest contract for an arbitration-eligible player in history. On top of that large sum of money, he'll also get an additional $1 million if he wins the MVP award in 2018. With this out of the way, Harper can focus on continuing to tear apart the league with the 1.213 OPS he's posted this season.
May 9 2017Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Monday's loss to the Orioles.After sitting out the weekend series in Philadelphia to nurse a sore groin, Harper got right back to business Monday. He now sports a dizzying .385/.511/.750 slash line on the year with 10 homers, 29 RBI, 36 runs and a 27:23 BB:K, and the only blemish on his performance from a fantasy perspective is his 0-for-2 showing on stolen base attempts.
May 8 2017Harper (groin) will start in right field and bat third in the order Monday against the Orioles, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.Harper missed all three games of the Nationals' series with the Phillies over the weekend due to the groin issue, but as expected, a stay on the disabled list was never in the cards for the outfielder. Chris Heisey, who had started two of the last three games in place of Harper, will return to his customary bench role.
May 7 2017Manager Dusty Baker expects Harper (groin) to be back in the lineup Monday at Baltimore, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.And with that, owners of one of the most prolific fantasy producers in all of baseball can breath a collective sigh of relief. Harper sat out three contests with the groin issue after being removed from Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, but clearly it's nothing serious. That said, the Nationals will be playing in an American League ballpark Monday and Tuesday, so there's always a chance Harper could slot in as the DH.
May 7 2017Harper (groin) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.It appears that the Nationals will continue to take the cautious approach with their superstar right fielder, as Sunday marks the third consecutive game that Harper will miss due to his groin injury. Chris Heisey will draw the start in right field in Harper's absence. Though the injury wasn't expected to sideline him for long, we'll have to wait and see if the former MVP will be back in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Orioles.
May 6 2017Manager Dusty Baker said Harper (groin) is feeling better and might be able to pinch hit Saturday, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.It sounds like Harper was lobbying to start Saturday, but Baker has decided to play it safe and hold his superstar slugger out of the lineup. A Sunday return sounds like a real possibility, but Harper's status for the series finale against Philadelphia won't be known until a couple hours prior to the 1:35 ET first pitch.
May 6 2017Harper (groin) is not in the lineup Saturday against the Phillies, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.Although the groin issue isn't thought to be anything overly serious, the Nationals aren't taking any chances with their superstar. Harper will be held out for the second straight game as Rafael Bautista gets his first major-league start in his place. The Nationals remain hopeful that Harper will be able to return to action before the weekend is over.
May 6 2017Harper (groin) should return to the lineup this weekend, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.The Nats aren't going to take any chances with their superstar slugger, but Harper's groin tweak doesn't appear to be serious. He has 12 career homers at Citizens Bank Park, so anyone with Harper shares has to hope his name is back on the lineup card Saturday.
May 5 2017Harper is not in the Nationals' lineup Friday after suffering a groin tightness in Thursday's game, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Harper was removed in the seventh inning of Thursday's win with the ailment and it appears to have lingered for another day. His absence of the lineup may simply be a precaution, so consider him day-to-day heading into the weekend. Chris Heisey will take over as the primary left fielder in his stead.
May 4 2017Harper (groin) was removed from Thursday's contest due to groin tightness, Dan Kolko of MASN reports.The young superstar was lifted from the game in the seventh inning in favor of Chris Heisey, and although it wasn't revealed at the time, the Nationals seemed to just be playing things safely with Harper while they held the lead. Consider Harper day-to-day for now, with more details on his availability moving forward likely coming soon as Friday's start time approaches.
May 4 2017Harper was lifted prematurely from Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.It's currently unclear what forced Harper out of the game after just seven innings. He was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run before Chris Heisey took over for him in right field. More should be known about his status after the game.
May 1 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with two walks, a solo home run and four runs scored in Sunday's 23-5 rout of the Mets.He crossed the plate an incredible 32 times in April, setting a new MLB record for the month and shattering the previous mark of 29 set in 1997 by Larry Walker. Harper's nine homers, 26 RBI and .391/.509/.772 slash line are pretty good, too. With the Nats offense firing on all cylinders right now, expect the 2015 NL MVP to continue piling up the production.
Apr 26 2017Harper went 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run in Colorado on Wednesday.He's been an on-base machine in the mold of Barry Bonds early on here, as Harper's now hitting .432 with a .548 OBP (not to mention that .824 slugging percentage). All in all, it looks like he's poised to replicate or maybe even improve upon that ridiculous 2015 campaign he put up before last year's disappointing performance.
Apr 24 2017Harper is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.It appears manager Dusty Baker is looking to keep Harper properly rested as he continues to build on his scalding start to the season. The Nationals' superstar will almost certainly be back in the lineup when they face off against Colorado again on Tuesday.
Apr 22 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets.He kicked off the scoring with a two-run blast off Matt Harvey, his seventh homer of the season, in the first inning, then doubled and scored on Trea Turner's bases-loaded walk in the 11th to produce the winning run. Harper came into the game with the fourth highest career OPS in the month of April in baseball history -- behind only some guys named Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Barry Bonds -- and Friday's performance exemplified how the 24-year-old has earned his place alongside those legends.
Apr 20 2017Harper went 4-for-4 with a walk, a double, two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI in Wednesday's 14-4 rout of the Braves.Both blasts came off Julio Teheran, including a no-doubt grand slam in the second inning. Harper now has a .455/.538/1.182 slash line with seven home runs in 33 career at-bats against the Atlanta ace, but his overall numbers so far this season aren't too shabby either: .404/.516/.846 with six homers, 18 RBI and 16 runs scored in 14 games.
Apr 16 2017Harper finished 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI during Sunday's 6-4 win over the Phillies.Harper launched a two-run homer in the third inning before going deep with two men on to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. It had been six games since Harper drove in a run, but this performance vaulted him into a tie for second in the big leagues with 12 RBI to go along with four home runs and 12 runs scored.
Apr 12 2017Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals.It's easy to understand the Cards' reluctance to give him a chance to hurt them, as Harper has started off 2017 by slashing .393/.541/.679 through eight games to go along with two homers, eight RBI and nine runs scored. With Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman just as hot behind him in the Nats batting order, though, teams may find they have little choice but give the 2015 NL MVP some hittable pitches.
Apr 11 2017Harper went 4-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored and three RBI in Monday's 14-6 shellacking of the Cardinals.All four hits were singles, but that's about the only complaint anyone with Harper shares could have with his performance. The 24-year-old superstar is now slashing a mammoth .385/.500/.654 through the first seven games of the season with two homers, eight RBI and seven runs scored.
Apr 7 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a homer, a walk, two runs and two RBI Friday against the Phillies.Harper's second homer of the year gave the Nationals a first-inning lead they'd never relinquish. He's reached base nine times over four games and he's off to a great start as he tries to put his disappointing 2016 campaign behind him. It certainly wouldn't be a big surprise if he returned to his status as one of the elite hitters in the majors.
Apr 6 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's win over the Marlins.It's only been two games, but Harper seems poised to put together another outstanding April after hitting .286/.406/.714 with nine homers in the first month of 2016. If he can stay healthy this time, the 24-year-old will likely add five more dominant months to his ledger by the end of the season as well.
Apr 3 2017Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's Opening Day win over the Marlins.Harper now has five homers in his first five Opening Day contests, which gives him the most Opening Day blasts in MLB history for a player by the age of 24. Following a 2015 campaign in which he tallied 42 home runs, fantasy owners couldn't help but feel a tad disappointed with Harper's 24 bombs last season. However, after dropping the hammer eight times over 58 at-bats this spring, then demonstrating his muscle in Monday's opener, Harper appears intent on returning to the game's elite tier of power hitters.
Mar 28 2017Harper went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.He leads all spring training hitters with eight homers, and Harper is slashing a mammoth .308/.403/.827 in 62 at-bats. It looks like the 24-year-old is gearing up to return to his 2015 MVP form.
Mar 17 2017Harper went 1-for-3 with his sixth home run of the spring, a solo shot, in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.Zack Wheeler was the victim this time out, as Harper re-established his lead in the spring home run race. He now has an absurd .966 SLG through 29 at-bats, and Harper would seem to be more than ready for Opening Day to arrive.
Mar 13 2017Harper went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, his MLB-leading fifth blast of the spring, in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.That's five homers in only 24 at-bats, by the way, an absurd pace even for someone with Harper's talent. While all the usual spring training caveats apply when it comes to the erratic level of competition -- Sunday's bomb came off 24-year-old semi-prospect Reymin Guduan, not exactly a household name -- Harper certainly appears to be in midseason form already, a frightening thought for opposition pitchers.
Mar 11 2017Harper hit a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, his fourth long ball in 21 spring at-bats.Last season ended up being a big disappointment for Harper due to neck and shoulder issues, making it easy to forget he clubbed nine homers in April with a 1.120 OPS before the injuries took the sting out of his batting stroke. If the 24-year-old can stay healthy in 2017, he has as much fantasy upside as any player in the league.
Mar 10 2017Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, his third of the spring, in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.He's got six hits so far this spring, and half of them have left the yard. Harper appears to be fully healthy, and ready to pick up where he left off in 2015 and the early part of 2016 before he was slowed by neck and shoulder issues.
Mar 3 2017Harper went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and a two-run home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.Ho hum, another big game at the plate for Harper, who's now got a ridiculous 1.806 OPS through his first handful of spring appearances. He's only had one truly huge season in the majors so far, but even in a down 2016 campaign he managed 24 homers and 21 steals. Harper still has as much fantasy upside as anyone in MLB.
Feb 26 2017Harper launched a tape-measure home run on the first pitch he saw as part of a 2-for-2 day in Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Mets.The no-doubt shot, which nearly cleared the second fence at the back of the hill overlooking Tradition Field in right-center, announced as clearly as anything could that Harper is 100 percent healthy to begin the spring. Last year's struggles have knocked his ADP down a peg in early drafts, but don't be surprised if it starts creeping back up if he continues to light up opposition pitchers through March.
Jan 13 2017Harper signed a one-year, $13.625 million deal with the Nationals on Friday, avoiding arbitration, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.This is Harper's second to last season before he hits free agency after the 2018 campaign. He received a healthy bump in pay from the $5 million he earned in 2016. While he is coming off a bit of a down year that was dragged down by injuries, Harper will still cost a premium as a late first-round pick in most drafts this season.
Oct 20 2016Harper is doing fine physically and is on track to begin his normal offseason strength and conditioning work soon, according to agent Scott Boras, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports.The 24-year-old's uneven play throughout the summer months led to much speculation about his health, and Sports Illustrated reported in September that Harper had indeed been playing through a neck/shoulder issue for a significant portion of the season. While manager Dusty Baker strongly denied the report, Boras recently confirmed to the Washington Post that Harper "played with limitations at times this year, no question."
Oct 7 2016Harper is batting second for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic reports.Harper has been a staple in the three- and four-hole all season, but with Daniel Murphy returning to the lineup and tough left-hander Clayton Kershaw toeing the rubber for Los Angeles, manager Dusty Baker decided to mix things up and move the reigning MVP up in the order. This could put Harper in line for more run-scoring opportunities with Jayson Werth and Murphy hitting behind him.
Sep 30 2016Harper (thumb) is in the lineup Friday against the Marlins, radio play-by-play announcer Charlie Slowes reports.Harper had sat out the previous four games with a thumb injury, and with the Nationals already clinching the NL East title it wasn't a given that he'd return before the end of the regular season. He's apparently recovered enough though, as he'll slot back into the starting lineup to open up the final series of the year, manning his usual responsibilities in right field and batting third against Miami starter Andrew Cashner.
Sep 29 2016Harper (thumb) is out of Thursday's lineup against the Diamondbacks, CSN Mid-Atlantic's Chase Hughes reports.This doesn't come as a major surprise, as the Nationals are being cautious with their star right fielder with the division sewn up. Thursday marks the fourth game in a row that Harper will miss with the thumb injury, with Michael Taylor getting the start in right field.
Sep 28 2016Harper (thumb) remains out of the lineup Wednesday, CSN's Chase Hughes reports.Harper will sit out for the third day in a row as a result of the thumb injury he suffered sliding into third base in Sunday's game. Brian Goodwin will get the start in right field in Harper's place.
Sep 27 2016Harper (thumb) is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.The news on Harper has been generally positive, as X-rays were negative and his swelling was already starting to diminish Monday. However, he's not expected to return until later in the week, perhaps not until the team's final series.
Sep 26 2016Harper (thumb) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN.Manager Dusty Baker did not have any details to share regarding Harper's health, but he will sit out at least one game due to the thumb injury he suffered Sunday. The Nationals are still playing for playoff positioning, but with a postseason berth secured, they figure to take the cautious route with Harper as long as he is less than 100 percent. Brian Goodwin will get the start in right field in his place Monday evening.
Sep 26 2016X-ray results on Harper's thumb came back negative Monday and there's a chance he'll be able to return later in the week, Byron Kerr of MASN reports.Obviously this is good news for Harper, as Kerr even reports that the swelling around Harper's thumb has subsided. A firm date for his return is still unknown, but Brian Goodwin stands to benefit from unexpected playing time during his continued absence.
Sep 25 2016Harper injured his thumb in Sunday's game and will undergo an X-ray on Monday, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reportsThe injury isn't the same spot as his previous thumb issue but more abut it should surface following the tests Monday. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Monday's series finale against the Diamondbacks until then.
Sep 25 2016Harper left Sunday's gamein the third inning with a hand injury, Dan Kolko of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network reports.Harper seemed to hurt his hand while sliding into third base on a triple. After the slide, he stayed in and scored a run, but was pulled from the outfield shortly after. Upon his departure, Harper was replaced by Chris Heisey in right field. More details regarding the severity of Harper's injury should be available in the near future.
Sep 24 2016Harper went 3-for-6 with a double in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Pirates.The slugger's multi-hit effort was his first since Sep. 6, a testament to how lackluster his month has been at the plate overall. Harper has slashed .203/.333/.297 over 64 September at-bats with only one homer and seven RBI, following an August where he managed a stellar .310/.398/.536 line and drove in 19 runs.
Sep 20 2016Harper has been dealing with an ailing shoulder/neck for the past two months, Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci reports.Since the start of July (approximately when the injury occurred, according to Verducci's report), Harper has hit .227/.344/.391 with eight home runs in 270 plate appearances, so his lack of production over that span certainly seems to back up the report that he is playing hurt. Manager Dusty Baker took issue with Verducci's report Tuesday, but that should not come as a surprise, as Baker has been tight-lipped about Harper's status all season, and he was likely upset that Verducci found a source close to Harper who was willing to talk. Assuming this report is accurate, it goes a long way toward explaining Harper's struggles this year, which is good news for his owners in keeper leagues, but bad news for anyone expecting him to turn things around over the final two weeks of the season.
Sep 19 2016Harper is not in the lineup Monday against the Marlins, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.With the Nats comfortably atop the NL East, they'll rest the reigning NL MVP in preparation for the postseason. Harper hit an encouraging .310 in the month of August, but his struggles have returned in September, as he's hitting just .184 with one home run, seven RBI and 16 strikeouts across 49 at-bats.
Sep 11 2016Harper went 1-for-4 with a three-run shot, his 24th home run of the year, in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Phillies.The eighth-inning blast came too late to get Max Scherzer a win, but it put the Nats nine games clear of the Mets in the NL East title race. After rebounding in August, Harper's off to a tough start to September, slashing .258/.314/.419 with an uncharacteristic 3:9 BB:K ratio in 31 at-bats.
Sep 5 2016Harper is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals, according to MASN's Dan Kolko.Harper has been swinging a hot bat for a few weeks, but manager Dusty Baker decided to hold out most of his regulars Monday, so Harper will get a day off for the first time since he sat out three straight games in mid-August with a sore neck. Brian Goodwin will get the start in right field in Harper's place.
Sep 2 2016Harper went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and two RBI in a loss Friday against the Mets.Harper appears to be finally breaking out of his summer-long doldrums with the help of new leadoff hitter and lineup catalyst Trea Turner. Since August 25, he has eight doubles, a home run and nine RBI.This is an encouraging development for fantasy owners who used a high selection on him early on but have relatively little to show for it.
Aug 30 2016Harper went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run Tuesday in Philadelphia.Washington's offense got to Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff early, as Harper drove in Daniel Murphy for the game's first run before coming around to score himself later in the inning. A career-low .262 BABIP has held the 2015 NL MVP back, but he's still one of the most potent hitters in baseball. A late-season uptick in production is likely if his BABIP rebounds back toward his career .319 mark.
Aug 27 2016Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, two-RBI triple and a run in Friday's 8-5 victory over the Rockies.The prolific slugger continued his recent stretch of hot hitting, with Friday's effort represent his fourth consecutive two-hit outing. Harper also has four RBI over his last two games, with his seventh-inning triple, his first of the year, plating Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy. Harper's bat has particularly come alive in August, during which he's slashed .354/.442/.569 with 16 RBI over 65 at-bats.
Aug 27 2016Harper went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Saturday's 9-4 extra-inning loss to the Rockies.The slugger struck out three times on the afternoon, but came through in the fourth with a two-bagger to left that plated Daniel Murphy. Despite his trouble making contact Saturday, Harper managed to extend his current hitting streak to five games, and has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 overall. He also has doubles in three consecutive contests and five RBI over that span.
Aug 21 2016Harper went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer Sunday against the Braves.After hitting .286 in April, Harper has failed to reach the .260 mark since July 7, and he's slashing .246/.386/.459 on the year. Despite the unexpected production from the fifth-year player, he's at least posting the second-best on-base percentage of his career.
Aug 17 2016Haper went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a pair of runs scored as the Nationals fell to the Rockies 12-10.The homer was Harper's first since July 20th, a stretch of time over which he has been mired in a miserable slump. He's hit just .190/.326/.352 over his last 30 games, but may be snapping out of it, hitting .333/.433/.625 over his last seven. The home run was Harper's 21st of the year, nine of which he hit in April. It's easy to forget that Harper is still just 23 years old, having had such high peaks in his career, winning an MVP award in 2015. Fantasy owners should stay hopeful with someone as talented as Harper, who has shown the ability to put up big flurries of offensive output in short stretches of time.
Aug 16 2016Harper went 3-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and an RBI in Monday's win over the Rockies.He's returned to the lineup from his neck issue with a vengeance, going 4-for-6 with three doubles and three walks over the last two games. If Harper is truly 100 percent again, don't be surprised if he goes on a tear over the final weeks of the season.
Aug 15 2016Harper (neck) went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Braves.In his first game action since Aug. 6, Harper was able to hit the ball with some authority and he appears to be over the neck stiffness that was keeping him sidelined. The right fielder has been alternating big months with terrible ones this season, so coming off a .176/.303/.319 July he seems due to go on a tear. With the Nationals starting a series in Coors Field on Monday, Harper couldn't have picked a better time to return.
Aug 14 2016Updating a previous report, Harper (neck) will be added to the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Braves, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.Washington's original lineup featured Brian Goodwin in right field, but the entire order will be reshuffled following the addition of Harper into the three-spot. Harper underwent an MRI Saturday, and the results came back clean, but it was initially suspected that Washington would continue to take a conservative approach. His health must have taken a turn for the better, as Harper's pregame routine must have been sufficient to convince team trainers that he was capable of starting. His progress will certainly be monitored closely, and any indication of discomfort could result in his removal, but until further notice, look for Harper to return to his regular role.
Aug 14 2016Harper (neck) remains out of the lineup Sunday against the Braves, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.Although his MRI results Saturday came back clean, Harper will miss his sixth consecutive game as a result of neck spasms. Even without any red flags on the MRI results, the Nationals may soon be forced to consider a DL stint if Harper is unable to return to the lineup in the near future. In the meantime, Brian Goodwin will get another start in right field.
Aug 13 2016Harper (neck spasms) had an MRI on Saturday that came back clean and he remains day-to-day, according to general manager Mike Rizzo, MLB.com's Jamal Collier reports.He is out of the lineup Saturday and Rizzo said that the team won't place him on the DL as long as they think there's a chance he could be used off the bench. Brian Goodwin is starting in right field again Saturday in place of Harper.
Aug 13 2016Harper (neck) is still out of the lineup Saturday against the Braves, the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.This marks the fifth straight game that Harper has missed with the stiff neck. He is day-to-day, although it's hard not to be a little pessimistic about his status, given the lack of optimistic quotes coming out of the Nationals' clubhouse. Daniel Murphy will start at first base Saturday and hit third.
Aug 12 2016Harper (neck) is out of the lineup again of Friday as the Nationals host the Braves, Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic reports.Harper has not played since leaving the game last Saturday with a neck injury. There is still no talk of Harper landing on the disabled list, so he remains day-to-day for the time being.
Aug 10 2016Harper (neck) remains out of the lineup Wednesday against the Indians, CSN Mid-Atlantic's Chase Hughes reports.A stiff neck will keep Harper sidelined for a third straight game Wednesday, with Brian Goodwin getting his first big league start in right field in his stead. The Nationals are off Thursday, so Harper will have a full four days to rest in advance of this weekend's series against the Braves. The team has been pretty quiet regarding the details and seriousness of the injury, so he should still be considered day-to-day until we hear otherwise.
Aug 9 2016Harper (neck) is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Indians, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.The Nationals have said that Harper's neck isn't seriously injured and that it's simply feeling stiff, so they'll continue to be cautious with the reigning NL MVP. Chris Heisey will cover right field during Harper's absence.
Aug 7 2016Harper (neck) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.Harper was an early exit Saturday due to a stick neck, so it's not all that surprising to see the outfielder rested, especially with a team day off on tap for Monday. The Nationals actually find themselves with two days off this week, but will begin a stretch of playing on 20 consecutive days this Friday. Now is as good of a time as ever to rest the team's No. 3 hitter, and until Harper is back, Chris Heisey stands to see extra reps in right field.
Aug 6 2016Harper was pulled from Saturday night's game against the Giants with a stiff neck, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper, who has been dealing with the neck issue for a few days now, went 0-for-3 (all strikeouts) before getting lifted in the sixth inning. Manager Dusty Baker didn't sound too concerned: "Anybody who has ever had a stiff neck, I mean, you know you're not yourself," Baker said. "So I took him out for precaution. We'll see if it's any better tomorrow." Harper will be re-evaluated Sunday.
Aug 3 2016Harper (illness) is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic reports.Harper was scratched from the lineup Tuesday due to illness, but he'll be back at his usual spot in right field Wednesday. The reigning NL MVP hasn't homered since July 20, and his season average has sunk to .235 after he ended last season with a .330 mark.
Aug 2 2016Harper has been scratched from Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks with an illness, Masn.com's Mark Zuckerman reports.Harper has been in a tailspin, having not homered since July 20, but he did get on-base three times in Monday's romp over Arizona and scored thrice.
Jul 24 2016Harper (rest) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Padres, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.It appears manager Dusty Baker is simply giving Harper a regular day off, as his last one was all the way back on June 30. Harper was 0-for-7 at the plate during the first two games of this series, so that, mixed with the fact that the Nationals are facing lefty Christian Friedrich on Sunday, all added up to be perfect timing for a maintenance day. In his stead, Chris Heisey will get the call in right field.
Jul 21 2016Harper had a three-true-outcomes game Wednesday against the Dodgers, going 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk, two runs and two strikeouts.He left nothing up to the fielders -- it was just between Harper and the opposing pitchers. Harper hasn't had a multi-hit game in two weeks (although the All-Star break did take up some of that time), and that's actually been a season-long lack that's led to his not-good .249 average. His BABIP's lingering at .245 accordingly, and that just doesn't fit with Harper's career tendencies; it wouldn't be surprising to see him go on a heater and lift the ol' average to respectability by the time this season comes to a close.
Jul 7 2016Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo homer Thursday at the Mets.Harper launched his 19th bomb of the year in the fourth inning to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead in a game they'd eventually lose. He's now homered in three of his last six games to bring his slugging percentage to .504 on the season.
Jul 6 2016Harper went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer Wednesday against the Brewers.Harper's 18th blast of the year gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead in the first inning of a game they'd eventually go on to win. He's now hit safely in six of his seven July games, and he's slashing .258/.400/.495 on the year.
Jul 3 2016Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo shot, his 17th home run of the season, in Sunday's blowout win over the Reds.Despite the blast he actually lost the team HR lead to, of all people, Danny Espinosa after the shortstop hit two more homers of his own Sunday. Harper's coming out of his slump though, hitting .391 (9-for-23) over his last six games with two HR and five RBI, and it's just a matter of time before he surges ahead of Espinosa once again.
Jun 30 2016Harper is not in the lineup Thursday against the Reds, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.It looks to be just a regular day off for Harper, as he's started each of the previous 16 games. He reached base twice Wednesday, but failed to record a hit as he went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks, and will take a seat against the left-handed Brandon Finnegan. Chris Heisey will get the start in his place and play right field Thursday.
Jun 28 2016Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer and two runs scored Tuesday against the Mets.Just another day at the office for the 23-year-old slugger, who showed no ill effects after falling at first base and taking a foul ball off the leg Monday. Harper is proving that his 2015 NL MVP campaign was no fluke, with two hits in each of his last two games and 16 long balls overall.
Jun 28 2016Harper is in the lineup, playing right field and batting cleanup Tuesday against the Mets, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.As expected, Harper is not missing any time after suffering several nicks in Monday's game including being hit by a foul ball and falling at first base. After homering nine times in the Nats' first 18 games this season, the 23-year-old has cooled off, batting .231 and going yard only six times over 56 games since then.
Jun 27 2016Harper is not expected to sit out Tuesday after exiting Monday's game against the Mets with a minor leg injury, Chase Hughes of CSN reports.Harper took a foul ball off one of his legs and also fell at first base, and with the game all but in hand by the sixth inning, manager Dusty Baker erred on the side of caution and took his star outfielder out of harm's way before the game was officially over. The 23-year-old still managed to go 2-for-3 with an RBI before his premature exit Monday.
Jun 22 2016Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers.The homer was his 15th of the season while the steal was his eighth. Harper seems to be emerging from his slump, hitting .333 (8-for-24) over his last six games with two homers, five RBI, three runs and two steals and pushing his slash line in June up to .294/.372/.412.
Jun 18 2016Harper went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in Friday's win over the Padres.It's his second straight two-hit game, and after slumping through the latter part of May, Harper's now hitting .308/.393/.404 through 52 June at-bats. It's only a matter of time before his power re-emerges as well, so the Nats' slugger could be poised for a productive few weeks heading into the All-Star break.
Jun 12 2016Harper is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper will take a seat against southpaw Adam Morgan, as manager Dusty Baker will look to rest as many of his left-handed bats as possible, which includes giving lefty Ben Revere the day off as well. Harper has started to slip out of a recent slump since the start of June, going 10-for-32 to raise his batting average 12 points on the month. Look for the lefty slugger to return to action for an important three-game series with the Cubs that begins Monday. In the meantime, Chris Heisey will take over in right field.
Jun 5 2016Harper went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Sunday's 10-9 win over the Reds.It's his first multi-hit performance since May 21, as Harper finally shows signs of snapping out of the slump he fell into during the last few weeks in May. It speaks both to his talent and the expectations around him that a .249/.413/.521 slash line is a bit of a disappointment, but Harper's more than capable of going on a tear and pumping his numbers back up.
Jun 3 2016Harper (knee) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.After missing two consecutive games due to a knee contusion, Harper will rejoin the Nationals' lineup in time for their series opener out at Great American Ball Park. He'll face left-hander Brandon Finnegan in his return to the lineup Friday. Harper has struggled of late and he's struggled against lefties all season by his standards, batting .225 with a .808 OPS in 40 at-bats against southpaws.
Jun 1 2016Harper (knee) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies,Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper left Monday's game with a right knee contusion after being hit by a pitch and is now missing his second consecutive game with the injury. It is unlikely that Harper misses any extended amount of time, but the Nationals don't want to rush their superstar back into action before he his fully healthy.
May 31 2016Harper (knee) is not in the Nationals' lineup Tuesday against Philadelphia, Mark Zuckerman of MASN reports.Harper took a pitch off of his right knee Monday and exited the game with what the team would later diagnose as a contusion. While Harper is not expected to miss significant time, he'll sit Tuesday as the Nationals attempt to avoid turning a minor injury into something that could linger. Washington will go with an outfield of Clint Robinson, Ben Revere and Jayson Werth on Tuesday.
May 30 2016Harper was diagnosed with a right knee contusion Monday, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper was hit by a pitch during Monday's game against the Phillies. He remained in the game for a bit, but when his knee stiffened up, Nationals manager Dusty Baker removed Harper from the game as a precautionary measure. For now, he's considered day-to-day.
May 30 2016Harper was diagnosed with a right knee contusion on Monday, Chelsea James of the Washington Post reports.Harper was hit by a pitch during Monday's game against the Phillies. He remained in the game for a bit, but when his knee stiffened up, Nationals' manager Dusty Baker removed Harper from the game as a precautionary measure. It's likely there will be more updates tomorrow on Harper's status.
May 30 2016Harper exited Monday's game against the Phillies after taking a pitch to the right knee area, CSN Mid-Atlantic reports.Harper was hit by a Jeremy Hellickson fastball and initially remained in the game. However, after being thrown out in a double play, he departed the field and headed to the clubhouse, with Chris Heisey taking his place in right field. The Nationals haven't released an update on Harper's status, so consider the reigning MVP day-to-day until further notice.
May 28 2016Harper went 1-for-4 with a home run Saturday against the Cardinals.The reigning NL MVP has slowed down a bit in recent weeks, but he remains an absolute must-start in all fantasy formats. Harper's average sits at .245, but he's on a nice three-game hitting streak with two homers over that span. His ability to get on base is also a plus, as his .420 OBP ranks eighth in the NL.
May 25 2016Harper is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets, according to CSN's Chase Hughes.Harper went 0-for-9 over his last three games and is hitting just .197 this month, so manager Dusty Baker decided to give him a day to clear his head, and hold Harper out for the third time this season. Chris Heisey will get the start in right field in Harper's place.
May 18 2016Harper walked four times and struck out in his other plate appearance Wednesday against the Mets.The net effect was that he only scored one run despite the Nats putting up seven on Bartolo Colon and the Mets staff. Harper's been racking up walks fiendishly, which is curious for a guy who's only hitting .254. Sure, he hit .330 last year, but when you take a look at Harper's last 20 games this season, the picture you get is of a guy who hasn't been very effective when he's actually been pitched to -- he has just a .167 average despite having drawn 32 walks in that span. Not to take anything away from him, but giving him the steroid-era Barry Bonds treatment just might be overkill.
May 14 2016Harper has dropped his appeal and will serve his one-game suspension in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins, the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.This is as good a time as any for Harper to serve the suspension, as it will spare him from playing 18 innings Saturday. Chris Heisey will get the start in right field and hit seventh in his place. Make sure Harper is not in any daily lineups Saturday evening, but he should be safe to deploy Sunday.
May 13 2016Harper was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, and a two-run home run in the Nationals' win over Miami on Friday night.Harper is hitting just .278, albeit with 11 home runs and 29 RBI on the season, but he sports a ridiculous .456 OBP as teams routinely pitch around him - he has walked 37 times in just 35 games. It's pretty easy to understand why, as his seventh-inning home run in this one broke a 2-2 tie and propelled the Nationals to a win.
May 11 2016Harper went 2-for-3 with a base on balls and was caught stealing in Wednesday's win over Detroit.The slugger's now been walked in seven consecutive games, with a Barry Bonds-esque 18 free passes in that span. It's no coincidence that Harper has only one RBI in that time; teams are pitching around the 23-year-old -- who's hitting .385/.645/.923 (yes, that's the slugging percentage) with runners in scoring position -- every time he comes up with men on base. That strategy will certainly artificially deflate his RBI opportunities, but Harper's going to rack up the stats regardless, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him try more steals to make teams pay for walking him. At least the Nats have moved the white-hot Daniel Murphy to the cleanup spot behind him, which should help -- it's hard to walk a guy when the next guy up is a .400 hitter. Harper's fantasy owners should, however, remain vigilant for his upcoming one-game suspension (assuming he loses his appeal).
May 11 2016Harper has been suspended for one game for his actions after being ejected from Monday's game, and he will appeal, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.He is still eligible to play until the appeal is heard, so there is no need to take him out of daily lineups Wednesday. He re-entered the field of play after being ejected from Monday's game against the Tigers to yell at the umpire, which is why he received the suspension. Appeals of this nature are typically processed fairly quickly, so stay tuned to find out when he will serve the one-game suspension, assuming he does not win the appeal. He is so dominant when he is in the lineup that this should not affect his deployment in weekly leagues.
May 10 2016Harper may be fined or suspended for re-entering the field after he was ejected from Monday's game against the Tigers, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.Harper was ejected in the ninth inning for his vocal disagreement with a called third strike against a teammate. He then joined his team on the field following a walk-off homer a few minutes later, and he was seen yelling at the home-plate umpire during the celebration. Red Sox manager John Farrell recently escaped with a fine for a similar offense, but Harper's choice of words may lead to a brief suspension.
May 9 2016Harper became the first player in major league history to reach base seven times in a game without an official at-bat, as he drew six walks and was hit by a pitch in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Cubs.The six walks also tied a big league record held by a number of players, most recently Jeff Bagwell in 1999. The Cubs absolutely refused to give Harper anything to hit, twice walking him with runners on first and second and two outs in order to pitch to Ryan Zimmerman, but their plan worked out Sunday when Javier Baez hit a walkoff homer in the 13th inning. Harper has now drawn an absurd 30 walks in 31 games this year to fuel his .432 OBP, but expect other teams to copy the Cubs' strategy until another Nats hitter makes them pay for it.
May 4 2016Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI in the Nats' win over the Royals on Wednesday afternoon.Prior to the multi-hit game Wednesday, Harper was mired in a 2-for-26 slump (13 strikeouts). He's now sitting with 10 home runs through 27 games this season, putting him on pace to threaten the 50-homer plateau by the end of 2016 if he can maintain his current power production.
Apr 26 2016Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks and an RBI against the Phillies on Tuesday.Harper saw 27 pitches, and was still able to do damage with an RBI single in the fifth inning despite being pitched around for most of the night. Expect the league's most dangerous hitter to get similar treatment often moving forward, as the difference between his league-leading .844 slugging percentage and second-place Jeremy Hazelbaker's .714 mark is the same as that between Hazelbaker and 19th place.
Apr 26 2016Harper is back in the lineup Tuesday, batting third against the Phillies.After receiving his first day off of the season Sunday, Harper will be back in his usual spot in the lineup for the Nationals' series opener against Philadelphia, batting third. The 23-year-old superstar is off to a tremendous start this season, slashing .323//405/.855 with nine home runs and 23 RBI. He'll be facing Philadelphia right-hander Vince Velasquez on Tuesday.
Apr 25 2016Harper was not in the starting lineup Sunday, but pinch-hit in the ninth and launched a solo shot to send the game into extra innings, his ninth home run of the season.His 2016 season is looking more and more like a sequel to The Natural every day. Harper now sports an utterly ridiculous .323/.405/.855 slash line through 62 at-bats and has more walks (10) and just as many homers (nine) as he does strikeouts.
Apr 24 2016Harper is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Twins, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.Harper has started each of the Nationals' first 17 games of the year in right field, but he'll get Sunday off after going 2-for-4 with a double in Saturday's contest. Matt den Dekker will man right field in his stead, while Daniel Murphy will move up to the third spot in the batting order.
Apr 22 2016Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo shot, his major league-leading eighth home run of the season, in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Marlins.He's now tied with Trevor Story for the league lead in HR, and his 22 RBI is six ahead of his next-closest competitors for the league lead in that category. Harper is also hitting a scintillating .400/.414/1.040 over the past week, as opposing pitchers have been almost completely unable to get a hittable pitch past him. His 2015 was extraordinary, but it may only have been the tip of the iceberg.
Apr 19 2016Harper hit a grand slam, his seventh home run, in Tuesday's win against the Marlins.The grand slam was his only hit in four at-bats, which lowered his average to .333. More importantly, Harper's power continues to be absolutely ridiculous, as his slugging percentage is up to .867. With seven home runs in 13 games, Harper is on pace for 87 on the year. Take "on pace" numbers with a grain of salt as always, but Harper is as good a bet to challenge records as anybody in baseball these days.
Apr 16 2016Harper went 2-for-3, hitting his third home run in as many games Saturday against the Phillies.The 23-year-old appears to be starting one of his signature tears, as he is 6-for-11 (.545) with three homers and nine RBI in the last three games. He also has five bombs in 10 games to start the year. It's obviously still early, but Harper is already well on his way to proving he was worth a top three pick in fantasy drafts.
Apr 15 2016Harper was 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI as Washington thumped the Phillies on Friday night.He got off to a relatively slow start, but has caught fire recently, raising his average to .313 with four long ones, and now totaling 11 RBI on the year. Harper is the furthest thing from a secret - when he's hot, the league can only hope to contain him, and that is never easy.
Apr 14 2016Harper only got one hit in four at-bats Thursday against Atlanta, but he made it count with a third-inning grand slam.He's certainly off to a good start in his MVP defense. Harper may be sitting on only a .250 batting average, but that's just the vagaries of small sample sizes; he'll lift that up, especially considering he's also sitting on a spectacular 7:3 BB:K in the early going.
Apr 12 2016Harper went 0-for-3 Monday but drew two walks, scored a run and stole two bases.He now has three steals through five games. The Nationals ran wild in spring training under the guidance of new first base coach Davey Lopes and that aggressive style on the basepaths surfaced again Monday, as Harper and Michael Taylor each stole two bases. Harper's previous career high is 18 SB set back in his rookie season in 2012, but it looks like he's poised to top that, perhaps by a significant margin.
Apr 10 2016Harper went 2-for-3 Sunday with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and an RBI.The doubles were the 99th and 100th of his short career, and Harper now boasts a ridiculous .385/.556/1.000 slash line through his first 13 at-bats. Assuming the weather in DC cooperates, he may not slow down when the Nats host the rebuilding Braves for a four-game series beginning Monday.
Apr 5 2016Harper went 1-for-3 Monday with two walks and a solo home run, his first of the season.He now has four career homers on Opening Days, which is remarkable considering he's only played in four of them. Harper's 2015 MVP campaign was extremely impressive, but he could put up even better numbers this season if players like Anthony Rendon can stay healthy and provide Harper with more RBI opportunities.
Mar 21 2016Harper hit his first two home runs of the spring, both off Justin Verlander, in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.Verlander had yet to be scored upon this spring before Harper got to work, and his second shot (a blast over the batter's eye wall in straightaway center field) was one of the longest home runs ever hit at Joker Marchant Stadium and drew admiration from Tigers legends like Al Kaline and Willie Horton. Harper appears to be in midseason form already, and ready to defend his NL MVP award.
Mar 18 2016Harper drew a walk in all three of his plate appearances Thursday, scoring two runs and stealing his second base of the spring.He hasn't yet flashed his impressive power in Grapefruit League action as he's still looking for his first spring home run, but Harper's willingness to run bodes well for his chances of becoming a contributor in that category again in 2016. The Nationals added Davey Lopes as their new first base coach in the offseason, who as a reputation for being something of a baserunning guru, and the Nats as a team are now 24-for-26 on stolen base attempts this spring. If Harper buys into Lopes' teachings, he could top his previous career high of 18 steals set back in his rookie campaign in 2012.
Mar 4 2016Harper went 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's Grapefruit League win over the Mets.The Nationals went five for five on stolen base attempts in the game, and even this early in the exhibition schedule it looks like new manager Dusty Baker and first base coach Davey Lopes are putting a lot of emphasis of staying active on the base paths. Harper stole 18 bases on 24 attempts as a rookie, but he's gone just 19-for-29 in the three seasons since in an effort to avoid sliding injuries. With Baker and Lopes giving him more green lights, however, Harper is still capable of threatening 20 steals in 2016. Don't count on him to contribute in that category, but he could very well surprise.
Nov 21 2015Harper said Thursday that he's open to a contract extension with the Nationals, the team's website reports. "I'm definitely excited to be part of the Nationals organization," said Harper. "I think that being able to play in [Nationals Park], this city, this town, around the fans, it's such a great place to play. Baseball is up and coming...I'm very excited to further my career with the Nationals. I have a couple of more years in D.C., and then hopefully at the end of that, we can do what we can and I can be a National for life, hopefully."He's not eligible for free agency for another three years, but Harper is headed for some big arbitration awards before then if he isn't locked up. Mike Trout signed a six-year, $144.5 million extension in 2014 that bought out his arbitration years, and given his numbers last year and the fact that Scott Boras is his agent, you can expect Harper to look for something better than that if the Nats want to follow suit.
Nov 21 2015Harper said Thursday that he's open to a contract extension with the Nationals, the team's website reports. "I'm definitely excited to be part of the Nationals organization," said Harper. "I think that being able to play in [Nationals Park], this city, this town, around the fans, it's such a great place to play. Baseball is up and coming... I'm very excited to further my career with the Nationals. I have a couple of more years in D.C., and then hopefully at the end of that, we can do what we can and I can be a National for life, hopefully."He's not eligible for free agency for another three years, but Harper is headed for some big arbitration awards before then if he isn't locked up. Mike Trout signed a six-year, $144.5 million extension in 2014 that bought out his arbitration years, and given his numbers last year and the fact that Scott Boras is his agent, you can expect Harper to look for something better than that if the Nats want to follow suit.
Nov 19 2015Harper was named the 2015 NL MVP by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Thursday, MLB.com reports.Most fans saw Harper as the only logical winner, and that was reflected in the voting, as Harper was the unanimous choice with all 30 first-place votes. Harper exploded with a .330/.460/.649 slash line in 2015, leading the NL with 42 homers and finishing second with 124 walks. A case can be made to take Harper, who is younger than NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant, with the first overall pick in drafts in 2016.
Nov 13 2015Harper was named an NL Silver Slugger winner on Thursday, the first time in his career that he's won the award, the Nationals' website reports. "I just think I was healthy this year," Harper said. "I think that's the main thing. I was able to stay on the field this year and not have those little nagging injuries, like sliding into third base and [hurting] my thumb or running into a wall in Dodger Stadium. Just trying to be as smart as I could out there and just play the game the right way. It just comes with the experience of knowing when to go hard, when not to go hard, and just being able to be smart about everything I do."The 23-year-old joins Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Gonzalez among the NL outfield winners and he could add to his hardware this offseason, as he's one of three finalists for the NL MVP award thanks to a .330/.460/.649 slash line and 42 home runs, 99 RBI and 118 runs in 153 games. Harper's 2015 season was historic for any number of reasons, ranking him alongside names like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire in various metrics and categories, and if he avoids the injuries that limited him earlier in his career, he could just be scratching the surface.
Oct 4 2015Harper (shin) is back in the lineup for Sunday's regular season finale against the Mets.Harper had a scare after missing the second leg of Saturday's doubleheader thanks to a hit by pitch in Game 1, but he'll tough it out and finish the season in the starting lineup. At stake for the phenom is a chance to hit the 100-RBI mark and lock up the NL batting title, where he's in a virtual tie with Dee Gordon.
Oct 3 2015Harper, who was hit by a pitch on the shin in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, is out of the lineup for the second game, the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.He had his shin heavily wrapped following the first game Saturday. With just one game remaining for the Nationals after Saturday's doubleheader, it would not be surprising if Harper did not play again this season.
Sep 28 2015Harper is out of the lineup Monday against the Reds, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.Harper collected no hits again Sunday, marking the fifth time in the past six games where that has occurred. When adding an escalation in the dugout with teammate Jonathan Papelbon, Harper will receive a day off to cool down and get his head right Monday. Matt den Dekker will replace him in right field, batting seventh for the Nationals.
Sep 26 2015Harper supplied almost all of the Nationals offense Saturday in a 12-inning, 2-1 win over the Phillies, going 3-for-5 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and an RBI.He's now three doubles shy of a 40 2B/40 HR season and four RBI shy of a century, so Harper will have a couple of milestones to chase over the season's final week even though the Nats were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.
Sep 23 2015Harper went 0-for-1 Tuesday with three walks, setting a new Nationals record with 118 free passes on the season, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.Adam Dunn set the old record in 2009 with 116 walks. Harper, naturally, was upset with himself for popping up the only hittable pitch he saw all night, but when you're slashing .342/.471/.672 on the season you're allowed to have what others might consider unreasonable expectations.
Sep 20 2015Harper kept doing his thing in Sunday's win against the Marlins, going 3-for-4 with a walk and a double.Here's the list of players that led their league in all three triple slash statistics at age 22, like Harper's doing: Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, and Stan Musial. Here are three players that never had an OPS in their career higher than Harper's current 1.144: Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, and Willie Mays.
Sep 17 2015Harper went 2-for-5 Wednesday with a two-run shot, his 40th home run of the season.He now leads the National League in two of the three Triple Crown categories but 'only' sits sixth in RBI with 92, and Harper leads the majors in all three slash categories with a .338/.467/.670 line.
Sep 15 2015Harper was 3-for-3 with two homers, four RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the Phillies.There likely isn't a superlative that hasn't already been attached to the 22-year-old phenom, who appears to be peaking during the stretch run of what has been an absolutely dominating season. Harper is now 18-for-43 (.419) in September with eight homers and 13 RBI. He accounted for all of the Nationals' scoring on Tuesday, breaking a scoreless tie with a two-out solo shot in the first and then adding a two-run dinger in the eighth. Harper has also notably already notched 14 walks in 14 September games, which adds yet another element to his seemingly inexhaustable offensive repertoire. His ability to get on base in every conceivable manner has been an intergral factor in the absurd 1.444 OPS that he had amassed in September coming into Tuesday's contest.
Sep 14 2015Harper (undisclosed) is in Monday's lineup against Philadelphia, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.Harper was lifted from Sunday's game after colliding with Derek Dietrich, but it looks like the move was just a precaution, and Harper, himself, stated after the game that he's fine. He'll bat third Monday and hold down his usual spot in right field.
Sep 13 2015Harper (undisclosed) indicated after the game that he's fine, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper was reportedly removed for precautionary reasons, and it sounds as though he'll be fine moving forward. The Nationals start a new series with the Phillies on Monday, but his status for the contest remains unclear at this point.
Sep 13 2015Harper exited Sunday's game after colliding with second baseman Derek Dietrich while rounding second.It's not apparent why Dietrich, who is getting his second career start at second base, was standing at the bag during the play, as there was no play to be made. Harper didn't appear to hit his head, but the Nationals quickly pulled him from the game and replaced him with Matt den Dekker in right field. We should know more after the game ends.
Sep 9 2015Harper went 3-for-4 with a double, two solo homers and three runs against the Mets on Wednesday.Harper did his best to boost his struggling team, but unfortunately, the rest of the Nationals didn't hold up their end of the bargain, scoring a combined zero runs. The Nats have been a second-half train wreck, but it hasn't been Harper's fault in the least -- he's been consistently spectacular all year long. Just over the last seven games, he has five homers, seven RBI and 13 runs.
Sep 7 2015Harper homered for the third straight game Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a solo shot.If the Nats fall short in their quest to catch the Mets in the NL East it won't be because of Harper, who's now slashing a mere .600/.720/.1.400 through the first six games of September.
Sep 4 2015Harper was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, and a solo home run in the Nationals win over the Braves on Friday night.Harper left Wednesday's game with tightness in his left glute, and was lifted in the sixth inning of Thursday's contest after the Nationals built a big lead so his health has been worth monitoring. He belted his 32nd home run in the first inning of this one and played all 10 innings so he is hopefully past the injury. The Nats can certainly ill-afford to lose his bat as they try to run down the Mets in the NL East.
Sep 3 2015Harper was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of Thursday's game against the Braves with the Nationals up 12-1.The 22-year-old was able to play Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game with glute tightness, but the Nats could afford to get him some rest after jumping out to a huge lead. Harper walked four times, once with the bases loaded, and scored four runs in his four trips to the plate.
Sep 3 2015Harper scored four runs and an RBI despite not registering a hit in Thursday's lopsided victory over the Braves.Harper was pulled in the sixth inning after walking four times, officially ending his night without an actual at-bat. Even crazier is that he didn't swing the bat once, all strikes against him were called. This is just the fourth time in MLB history that a player scored at least four runs without an official at-bat. Harper's explosion in walk rate has been one of the stories of his breakout season, thanks both to highly improved plate discipline and fear from opposing pitchers.
Sep 3 2015Harper is in the lineup Thursday against the Braves.Harper tweaked his left glute during a swing Wednesday and immediately left the game. The discomfort has apparently subsided, however, as he'll start Thursday's contest and man center field with Michael Taylor (knee) still ailing.
Sep 2 2015Harper was replaced by Matt den Dekker in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game, Dan Kolko of MASN reports. Kolko noted that Harper did not have any "obvious injury."The Nationals had a one-run lead over the Cardinals prior to Harper's departure in the fourth inning, so it wasn't as if manager Matt Williams was pulling his star out of the game in a blowout situation. Because the team tends to not disclose injury news until after the game, there likely won't be an update on Harper's status until late Wednesday or early Thursday.
Sep 2 2015Harper left Wednesday's game with "left glute tightness", the team announced.Harper left the game after running roughly halfway up the first base line on a pop-up, but there was no certain indication that he had suffered an injury. The team has reported that Harper is dealing with tightness in his upper leg, but there is no further word on the severity of his injury. Consider Harper day-to-day ahead of Thursday's series opener against the Braves.
Aug 26 2015Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk, a steal, two RBI and a run against the Padres on Wednesday.Even when he's not hammering the ball around the park, Harper finds a way to contribute -- this time, it was timely hitting, strong baserunning and terrific defense. The steal was only his sixth of the year, as Harper doesn't make too much use of his legs these days, but with the MVP-caliber numbers he's put up this year, no one's complaining.
Aug 24 2015Harper went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored against the Brewers on Sunday.He's cooled down a bit since his huge first half, but Harper is still slashing .309/.434/.496 in 123 at-bats since the All-Star break, with five home runs, 13 RBI and 27 runs scored.
Aug 16 2015Harper (foot) is back in the lineup Sunday against the Giants, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Harper was pulled from Saturday's game after fouling a ball of his left shin, but it appears the removal was only precautionary, as X-rays conducted later turned up negative. The outfielder apparently didn't experience any limitations while working out prior to Sunday's contest, so the Nationals will plug him back into the third spot in the order.
Aug 16 2015X-rays on Harper's foot returned negative, and the Nationals will wait to see how he feels Sunday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Harper exited Saturday's game early after fouling a ball off of his foot, but remained in the game to finish his at-bat before doing so. Fortunately, the issue appears to be a day-to-day, and it seems there may be a chance he plays again Sunday depending on how he feels.
Aug 15 2015Harper left Saturday night's game after fouling a ball off his left shin.Harper finished the at-bat after the foul ball, but came out the following half-inning, getting replaced in the outfield by Tyler Moore.
Aug 14 2015Harper went 1-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in an 8-5 loss to the Giants on Friday.Harper hit a three-run bomb in the fifth to knock Matt Cain out of the game, but it was all for nothing as the Nationals couldn't make the full comeback. This is yet another great performance in an MVP type season, but with the Nationals playoff hopes slipping, the MVP award may be slipping as well.
Aug 11 2015Harper has been scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.A reason for Harper's scratch has not yet been provided, but Clint Robinson is now slated to play right field for Washington with Ryan Zimmerman batting third. Expect another update when more information becomes available.
Aug 11 2015Harper was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with left knee soreness.The extent of the injury is unknown, but Harper will be replaced in right field by Clint Robinson for at least one game. Harper has experienced a bit of a power outage of late, recording just one extra-base hit (a double) in his last 11 games, though it's uncertain if this has been a lingering issue.
Aug 11 2015Harper (knee) will be available off the bench Tuesday, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.His left knee swelled up after a diving attempt in Monday's game, resulting in his scratch from Tuesday's starting lineup. The Nats don't seem overly concerned, however, as manager Matt Williams said no MRI was ordered and added that Harper will be a bench option Tuesday night. That said, Harper's status for Wednesday's series finale against Los Angeles is uncertain.
Aug 9 2015Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Rockies.Since homering twice in a July 29 win over the Marlins, Harper hasn't left the yard and has contributed only two extra-base hits over his last 10 games. However, he's been able to atone for the power outage by drawing walks at an even more accelerated rate, with eight coming in his past five contests. Since Harper is ostensibly healthy, it should just be a matter of time before the power returns, and if the increased plate discipline he's shown of late continues, his league-leading OPS could rise even further.
Jul 29 2015Harper went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, four RBI, and two home runs Wednesday against the Marlins.Harper had his third multi-home run game of the season and his first since hitting two against Atlanta on May 8. The 22-year-old now has 29 home runs for the season, good for the National League lead.
Jul 19 2015Harper went 1-for-4 Saturday with a two-run blast, his 27th home run of the season.After striking out three times against Clayton Kershaw, Harper was able to take Kenley Jansen yard in the ninth inning to salvage his day. He's still got a massive .337/.464/.706 slash line on the season though, and as long as he doesn't see Kershaw again any time soon, Harper should remain among the game's elite hitters.
Jul 7 2015Harper has elected not to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby, the Washington Post reports.If you're a believer in the notion that the Home Run Derby can disrupt a player's swing and cause a second-half slump, or are just worried about anything that might fatigue Harper and make him more susceptible to injury, his decision to sit out the contest counts as very good news.
Jul 6 2015Harper went 2-for-3 Sunday with a walk, a double, a run scored and his fourth stolen base of the season.As if he hasn't done enough already this season Harper seems to be getting comfortable running again, as the double was of the hustle variety on a routine hit to left-center that Angel Pagan didn't return to the infield quickly enough. While anyone with fantasy shares in Harper would probably prefer that he stay healthy rather than swipe the occasional extra base, he does have the potential to add double-digit steals in the second half to his already incredible campaign.
Jul 5 2015Harper went 3-for-4 Saturday with a walk, a double, two runs scored, two RBI and his 25th home run of the season.He kicked off the July 4 fireworks display early, taking Madison Bumgarner deep in the first inning. Harper just refuses to slow down, and now has an incredible .344/.470/.719 slash line on the season.
Jun 30 2015Harper is in the lineup Tuesday against Atlanta.Harper sat out the second game of Sunday's doubleheader as a precaution after battling a leg injury last week. Following an off day Monday, Harper is back in his usual right field spot, and he'll bat cleanup against Braves' starter Shelby Miller.
Jun 28 2015Harper (leg) is back in the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.Harper experienced cramping in his leg during Wednesday's extra-innings game, and he was held out of the lineup Thursday and Friday. After X-rays returned positive results, Harper will be back on the field Sunday for Game 1 of a doubleheader. Assuming he doesn't suffer a setback, he'll likely remain in the lineup for Game 2 as well.
Jun 27 2015Harper (leg) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Phillies.Make it three straight days on the bench for Harper, who experienced some cramping in his leg during the 11th inning of Wednesday's game. He did receive some encouraging news Friday, though, as manager Matt Williams said the results of Harper's MRI were "pretty good." Clint Robinson will get the start in right field Saturday, while Harper remains day-to-day ahead of Sunday's series finale.
Jun 26 2015Harper, who is out of the lineup Friday, underwent an MRI on his right hamstring and the results were "pretty good," the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reports.This seems to be a pretty legitimate day-to-day situation with the Nationals' slugger. Clint Robinson will get the start in right field Friday against righty Aaron Harang.
Jun 26 2015Harper (leg) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.The Nats will turn to Clint Robinson in right field Friday while Harper is out of the lineup for the second straight day. For now, he remains day-to-day as the Nats haven't provided any additional information about his injury.
Jun 25 2015Harper (leg) will sit out Thursday's game against the Braves, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.Harper is currently day-to-day after cramping up in the 11th inning of Wednesday's contest. He'll miss Thursday's game as a result, but the issue shouldn't be something that keeps him out long. Clint Robinson will start in right field in his place, batting cleanup for the Nationals.
Jun 25 2015Harper will be reevaluated Thursday after his right leg cramped up in the 11th inning Wednesday, CSN Washington's Chase Hughes reports.He hit a double in the 11th inning Wednesday and cramped up, although he told manager Matt Williams he could score on a base hit so he remained in the game. Williams said the team will have more information about Harper before Thursday's game, but daily league owners should be aware that there is a chance he could be scratched if everything doesn't check out with his leg. The cramps are not related to the left hamstring strain that he dealt with this past weekend.
Jun 21 2015Harper went deep for a second consecutive game Sunday, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run off of Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton in the win.The home run was a part of a nine run first inning that saw Harper come to the plate twice. It's his 24th home run of the season as he hasn't shown any ill-effects from the mild hamstring strain he suffered earlier this week. Harper continues to wreak havoc offensively this season as he's already surpassed his career high in home runs and needs just five RBI and eight walks to post career highs in those categories as well. The 22-year-old is hitting .347/.477/.730 for the season.
Jun 20 2015Harper (hamstring) went 2-for-4 Saturday with two runs scored and two RBI including a solo shot off Francisco Liriano, his 23rd home run of the season.It seems safe to say that his hamstring issue is not a serious one. Harper pushed his OPS back over 1.200 with Saturday's performance, and he remains among the league leaders in most offensive categories. If you looked past the injuries that have slowed his career and gambled on his upside this season, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Jun 20 2015Harper (hamstring) has returned to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Missing one game is a pretty ideal outcome for Harper and the Nationals given how bad his injury initially looked. There was talk of an MRI and further treatment, but Harper must have indicated he was feeling good in order to get back so soon. It might be a decent idea to hold off on declaring Harper 100 percent, as the hamstring could bother him for a while and he's had has had a rough history of minor injuries nagging in his young career.
Jun 19 2015Harper's (hamstring) leg remains sore, and he will rest and undergo treatment before determining whether or not an MRI will be required, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper exited Thursday's game early after a scary looking injury, but the result seems much more minor than it appeared. He will sit out at least Friday, however, and should be considered day-to-day unless something indicates otherwise.
Jun 19 2015Harper (hamstring) is out of Friday's lineup against the Pirates.Harper's absence isn't a big surprise after suffering a hamstring issue. Given the initial feeling of a knee injury, a mild hamstring strain shouldn't worry owners as much. However, he will miss at least Friday's game as a result of the injury, and he's expected to receive an evaluation at some point Friday which should provide a somewhat clearer timetable.
Jun 18 2015Manager Matt Williams told the media following Thursday's game that Harper suffered a mild left hamstring strain and will be evaluated Friday, Nationals' Play-by-Play announcer Charlie Slowes reports.This news comes as a relief to Harper owners and Nationals fans as he gingerly walked off the field in the sixth inning after he slipped making a throw. Friday's testing will give more clarity to Harper's status, but for now it appears he dodged a major injury.
Jun 18 2015Harper left Thursday's game in the sixth inning with an apparent left knee injury, Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington reports.It appeared as though Harper's knee buckled as he tried to make a throw in the bottom of the inning and he promptly left the game, limping. Clint Robinson came in to replace Harper, who should be considered day-to-day until more information becomes available.
Jun 16 2015Harper hit his 22nd homer as part of a 3-for-3 game in Tuesday's blowout win over the Rays.Harper also played right field after spending Monday in the DH role, so there shouldn't be any lingering doubts about the knee injury he suffered Saturday in Milwaukee. It was another MVP night for Harper, whose 1.216 OPS leads Paul Goldschmidt by 56 points for the best in the majors.
Jun 15 2015Harper (knee) will return to the lineup Monday against the Rays, serving as the designated hitter and batting fourth, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper suffered a knee injury in Saturday's game after being hit by a pitch, and it forced him out of Sunday's game as well. He'll continue to rest from his duties in the outfield Monday, but the team fortunately plays at an American League team in the Rays, allowing him to bat without playing the field. Considering the Nats play two games that, it seems possible he'll be able to play in the field once again when the team returns home Wednesday.
Jun 14 2015Harper (knee) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers.Harper had to be removed from Saturday's game after being hit in the left knee with a pitch, and the ailment will cost him Sunday's contest as well. Consider Harper day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener against the Rays, although the soreness isn't expected to effect him deep into next week. Clint Robinson will take over in right field Sunday, while Yunel Escobar moves down one spot in the order to bat cleanup.
Jun 13 2015Harper said his knee was pretty sore following Saturday's game and he was unsure if he would be able to take the field Sunday, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.He left Saturday's game after getting hit on the left knee by a 95 mph fastball in the ninth inning. Harper said he would have to see how he felt Sunday, so it sounds like he is truly day-to-day.
Jun 13 2015Harper left Saturday's game against the Brewers after being hit on the left knee by a pitch, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.A 95 mph fastball from Michael Blazek hit Harper in the knee in the top of the ninth inning, and the 22-year-old was promptly lifted for a pinch runner. It was Harper's fifth time on base in the game, as he went 3-for-3 (all singles) with a a walk in his first four trips. Consider him day-to-day until the team provides more information.
Jun 12 2015Harper continued his monster season Friday, blasting his 21st home run as part of a 2-for-3 effort.The young slugger also drove in a run with a single, scored twice and raised his average to .333. Harper is doing everything for the Nationals right now, and fantasy owners should enjoy the ride as he is showing zero signs of slowing down.
Jun 9 2015Harper kept his foot on the gas Tuesday, launching his 20th home run of the season.The blast was Harper's second in three games after going seven games without a homer. The 22-year old has 47 RBI and a .330 batting average to go with his home runs. Harper is now just two long balls away from matching his career high.
Jun 6 2015Harper went 2-for-4 Saturday with an opposite-field solo shot, his 19th home run of the season.We're barely into June, and Harper is already four HR shy of his previous career high. The Nationals have one more game in cozy Wrigley Field before a two-game set in Yankee Stadium, with its short porch in right field, so home run number 20 could be coming very shortly.
Jun 3 2015Harper played both ends of Tuesday's double-header, going 3-for-7 with a walk, a double, a run scored, an RBI and his third stolen base of the season.While he didn't deposit any balls in the outfield seats, Harper managed to leave a selfie on a fan's phone and still had a productive day at the plate. His minor back issue from the weekend doesn't appear to be an ongoing problem either, so it should be full steam ahead for the young superstar.
May 31 2015Harper (back) will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Reds, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.Harper was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup due to back soreness, and even suggested that he might be at risk of sitting out Sunday. Any lingering discomfort must have subsided, however, as he'll resume his regular role in right field and batt cleanup in the order. As long as Harper avoids another late scratch, he should be safe to deploy in formats with daily lineup switches.
May 30 2015Harper (back) suggested he could sit out Sunday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.A pitch from the Reds' Tony Cingrani hit the 22-year-old in the back Friday night and bruised his spine, according to Harper. He was a late scratch Saturday and it sounds like Harper may need another day off, as he feels it when he swings and doesn't want to have to alter his mechanics at the dish.
May 30 2015Harper has a sore back and was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup.He was drilled in the back by a fastball from Tony Cingrani in Friday's game but remained in after causing a bit of a scene walking to first base. It is not clear how serious the ailment is, or whether Harper will be available off the bench Saturday. This will be the first game he has not started this season. Michael Taylor will serve as Harper's replacement in Saturday's lineup.
May 27 2015Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Wednesday's victory over the Cubs.Harper's power surge continues, and he has now hit 13 home runs and and tallied 28 RBI in 19 games since May 6. He owns a .331/.470/.745 slash line through 46 games this season -- good for an eye-popping 1.215 OPS.
May 26 2015Harper belted his NL-leading 17th home run in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs.Harper didn't feel great about the long ball off the bat, but with the wind blowing out at Wrigley, the ball was just able to escape the ballpark to the opposite field. The 22-year-old remains red-hot, as his 17 homers are tied with Seattle's Nelson Cruz for the Major League lead.
May 25 2015Harper went 2-for-3 Sunday with a walk, a run scored and two RBI.The Phillies did manage to keep him in the yard though, which must count for something. Harper's now hitting .333/.471/.728 on the season (no, that's not a typo, and yes, that's an 1198 OPS), and shows no sign of slowing down.
May 22 2015Harper was 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in the Nationals' win over Philadelphia on Friday night.The walk was intentional. When you are on fire, hitting .336 with 16 home runs and 39 RBI that is going to happen. One of the most talented young players in the game, Harper is well on his way to the breakout season the team, and fantasy owners have been anxious to enjoy.
May 20 2015Harper went 1-for-4 Tuesday with a solo shot, his 15th home run of the season.He doesn't appear to be slowing down after winning back-to-back NL Player of the Week honors. Harper also drew his major league-leading 37th walk on Tuesday, and his slash line in May is now an absurd .400/.520/.983.
May 20 2015Harper was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Yankees.Harper and manager Matt Williams were both ejected by umpire Marvin Hudson after Harper argued a strike call. Michael Taylor will take Harper's place in right field for the remainder of Wednesday's game.
May 17 2015Harper had a monster day at the plate Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run, four RBI, three runs scored and a walk against the Padres.The 22-year-old star has been unreal over his past 11 games, with nine home runs, 22 RBI and 18 runs during that time. Amazingly, he has also drawn nine walks in addition to batting 22-for-39 during the stretch and has raised his season OPS to an astronomical 1.205. It seems Harper has finally emerged as the consistent force that the Nationals, and fantasy owners, have long anticipated.
May 13 2015Harper was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes.The NL leader in home runs went down looking but didn't like the call, and he let umpire Rob Drake know it. It's less than ideal for Harper to get ejected from a tie game, but manager Matt Williams immediately came to Harper's defense (and got tossed as well). It's hard to imagine Harper will draw any discipline from the league.
May 13 2015Harper went 2-for-3 from the plate Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, driving in two runs, one of which came on a home run.Harper extended his hit streak to six games, and now has seven home runs in his past seven games. He's also driven in a run in six straight games and is now slugging .675.
May 11 2015Harper just missed extending his home run streak to four games on Sunday, instead settling for a double in a 2-for-4 performance.His numbers on the season continue to rise, and Harper is now hitting an even .300 while leading the NL in home runs with 11 and sitting third in the majors in RBI with 28. If he can just stay healthy, Harper seems headed for a massive campaign.
May 9 2015Harper remained hot on Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a walkoff, two-run home run in the ninth inning.He's exploded for six home runs and 12 RBI in his last three games, and Harper's slash line on the season is now an impressive .284/.426/.627.
May 8 2015Harper had another huge night at the plate going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBI against the Braves on Friday.His average is now up to .284 and he has slammed 10 home runs while driving in 25 runs. Many consider him to have been a bit of a disappointment the past couple of seasons, but it's easy to forget that he is still just 22 years old, and is loaded with talent. He's on fire right now, and this could be the season he puts it all together.
May 6 2015Harper homered in his first three at-bats and added an RBI groundout his fourth time up Wednesday, finishing the day with five RBI in a 7-5 win over Miami.Marlins starter Tom Koehler made the mistake of giving Harper a pitch to hit all three times he faced him, and he paid for it every time. The 22-year-old outfielder had been cold recently, with a 1-for-17 mark over the previous five games, but he busted that slump in epic fashion. A massive spike in walk rate this year and Wednesday's power surge have Harper's numbers looking better than they ever have, as he's now sitting on a .977 OPS.
May 1 2015Harper went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Mets.It's been a sort of quiet, walk-heavy start to the year for the young slugger, but he's starting to round into form as one of the league's better hitters. He's taken a whopping 22 walks in 23 games, and that on top of his career-best .286 average has him sitting on a stunning .440 OBP, good for seventh among qualifiers in the National League.
Apr 25 2015Harper went 2-for-2 Friday with two RBI.He also drew his 16th walk in 17 games, a fantastic pace that pushes his slash line to .286/.438/.518 and probably has owners with Harper shares in OBP leagues ecstatic. His four home runs, 10 RBI and 11 runs scored aren't too shabby either.
Apr 18 2015Harper went 2-for-3 Saturday with a home run, a monster 454-foot solo shot off Aaron Harang.That's two straight games with homers and four straight multi-hit efforts for Harper, who also drew his ninth walk in 12 games on Saturday. After a couple of injury-plagued seasons, Harper may finally be coming into his own.
Apr 17 2015Harper was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a three-run home run in the Nationals win over Philadelphia Friday night.His three-run blast in the bottom of the first inning proved to be enough for Max Scherzer. Harper now has three long ones to go with six RBI and a .250 average on the season. As Washington gets healthy and settled in, Harper could be primed to start fulfilling some of the early promise.
Apr 13 2015Harper went 1-for-5 Sunday with a solo home run, his second blast of the season.He's now hitting .261/.346/.522 through the first week of the season, and as the Nationals lineup gets healthier around him, Harper's homers should start cashing in runners other than himself. If he can just stay off the DL, he could finally have the breakout season everyone's been expecting from him.
Apr 9 2015Harper went 2-for-3 on Wednesday with a walk and a strikeout.After collecting two hits, including a solo home run, on Opening Day, it looks like Harper is dialed in to begin 2015. Health may be the only things standing between the 22-year-old and a monster season.
Mar 27 2015Harper (illness) will return to the Nationals' lineup for Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper succumbed to a stomach virus earlier in the week, but after a few days out of the lineup to recover, he appears to be healthy and ready to play. He'll bat third in the order between Ian Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman on Friday, which could represent his spot in the batting order on Opening Day if Jayson Werth (shoulder) and Anthony Rendon (knee) are deemed unavailable.
Mar 26 2015Harper will not play Thursday for the second straight day, CSN's Mark Zuckerman reports.It's not clear what is keeping Harper out of action, but he appeared to be in Thursday's original lineup before being removed, so it seems he may be dealing with some sort of health issue. The Nationals have not released an update on Harper's status, but those that have drafted or are considering drafting him should be sure to keep tabs on his status.
Mar 26 2015Harper was sidelined the last couple days by a stomach ailment, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper attempted to warm up Thursday, but he could not do any more than take light swings and was sent home. Harper is expected to return to action Friday, and the illness should no longer be an issue by the time Opening Day rolls around.
Mar 17 2015Harper admits that his swing didn't get back into sync last season following his thumb injury until August, the Washington Post reports.If you're looking for a good reason to be optimistic about Harper this season, here it is: he hit .283 with 10 home runs in 187 at-bats last August and September, then hit three more blasts in four postseason games. If he stays healthy and carries that power into 2015, a 30-plus home run campaign is easily within his reach.
Mar 10 2015Harper will not be considered as an everyday option in center field, according to manager Matt Williams, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.As expected, Harper will spend the majority of his time at the corner spots, even with Denard Span (Achilles) out 4-to-6 weeks. Michael Taylor figures to be the primary option in center, though Williams conceded that Harper will be considered there "if need be."
Dec 15 2014Harper has agreed to a two-year deal with the Nationals, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.He's under club control through 2018, but the agreement gives Harper $7.5 million over the next two seasons and resolves a grievance between Harper and the Nationals pertaining to the contract that he signed upon being drafted by the club.
Dec 10 2014Harper will play right field in 2015 with Jayson Werth moving to left, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.In terms of fantasy impact, this isn't an especially significant piece of news, though the move means Harper will have to play a slightly more physically-demanding position next year. Harper has missed significant time due the injury the past two seasons.
Sep 26 2014Harper is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the Nationals' doubleheader against the Marlins.Harper started Game 1 of the doubleheader in right field, but Jayson Werth will take that spot for Game 2 while Steve Souza will start in left.
Sep 25 2014Harper is not in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Mets, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.Harper will get the nightcap off after going 1-for-4 in the matinee.
Sep 20 2014Harper is out of the lineup Saturday against the Marlins.Harper will take a day off Saturday with the return of Ryan Zimmerman to the lineup and left field. It wouldn't be surprising to see Harper get multiple days off with the playoff berth already clinched in order to get Zimmerman back in a groove, but Harper could also be in the lineup alongside Zimmerman as the latter also could see some time at third base.
Sep 18 2014Harper went 3-for-4 with a double and run scored in Thursday's win at Miami.Harper was dealing with flu-like symptoms earlier in the week, but appears to be fine now.
Sep 17 2014Harper is not in the lineup Wednesday, MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports.The Nationals clinched a playoff berth Tuesday night, so manager Matt Williams is giving all of the regulars a day off Wednesday. Steve Souza will start in left field, and Harper should be back in the lineup in short order.
Sep 16 2014Harper (illness) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves.Harper exited Monday's game early due to flu-like symptoms, but they will not prevent him from starting Tuesday. Harper will man left field and bat sixth against Braves starter Aaron Harang.
Sep 15 2014Harper is dealing with flu-like symptoms, which played a role in forcing his exit from Monday's game, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper had to leave Monday's game after feeling a bit light-headed, and it sounds like a flu bug that has been going around the team is to blame. The outfielder will be reevaluated prior to Tuesday's game to see if his symptoms have persisted overnight. If he's deemed healthy enough, manager Matt Williams will likely place him back in the starting lineup.
Sep 15 2014Harper left Monday's game against the Braves due to lightheadedness, the Washington Post reports.Harper, who was dealing with an illness over the weekend, was removed after the third inning and replaced by Nate Schierholtz in left field. His status for Tuesday's game is unclear, though more information should be available following the game. Prior to exiting, Harper was 0-for-1 with a strikeout.
Sep 10 2014Harper went 1-for-4 with his 12th homer of the year in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Braves.The homer, a 416-foot shot to right field in the ninth inning, was just the second surrendered by Braves closer Craig Kimbrel this season. It was Harper's 10th since the All-Star break, and he's now batting .326 over his last 12 games.
Sep 7 2014Harper is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.Although Harper owns an .806 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, he'll take a seat Sunday with tough southpaw Cole Hamels on the mound for the Phillies. Scott Hairston will take over in left field.
Sep 4 2014Harper went 3-for-6 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's marathon win over the Dodgers.Finally healthy, Harper's found another gear in his game, hitting a sizzling .440 (11-for-25) over the last six games to boost his slash line on the season to .272/.345/.431.
Sep 3 2014Harper smacked his 11th home run of the year, a solo shot of Clayton Kershaw in the seventh inning, in a 1-for-4 performance Tuesday against the Dodgers.Harper is starting to heat up as we enter the stretch run, as he is 8-for-19 in his last five games with four home runs, four RBI and four runs scored. After an uneventful season marred by injury, Harper looks primed for a strong final month.
Sep 1 2014Harper went 3-for-4 Sunday with a pair of solo home runs.That's four home runs in the last seven games for Harper, who's heating up at the right time for the Nats as they try to lock down the NL East crown.
Aug 30 2014Harper went 3-for-4 Friday with a solo home run, one of six homers the Nationals cranked off Felix Hernandez and the Mariners.He emphatically snapped out of an 0-for-9 mini-slump. August has been the first month in which Harper has looked anything like the player his owners thought they were drafting, as he's hit .268/.327/.433 with five home runs and 13 RBI in 97 at-bats.
Aug 26 2014Harper is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies.Harper is coming off a 0-for-4 night at the plate Monday that included three strikeouts, and will take a day of rest Tuesday with the left-handed Cole Hamels on the mound. Scott Hairston takes the start in left field and will bat sixth for the Nationals.
Aug 25 2014Harper went 2-for-5 Sunday with two runs scored, two RBI, a double and his seventh home run of the season.The kid is finding a groove, hitting .370 (10-for-27) over his last seven games, although Sunday's extra-base hits were Harper's first over that stretch. He seems primed for a big finish to his season.
Aug 20 2014Harper went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the Nats' win over Arizona on Wednesday.The multi-hit effort pushed his line to .262/.345/.386 for the year -- a far cry from expectations, but it's a regression that can largely be attributed to health, as he's dealt with a thumb injury since late April.
Aug 15 2014Harper went 2-for-4 Friday with two RBI.He's now hitting .313 (10-for-32) over his last eight games, with three home runs and nine RBI. Harper owners who have suffered through a tough season so far may be rewarded for their patience over the next six weeks.
Aug 14 2014Harper smacked a two-run homer in Thursday's win over the Mets. It was his only hit of the game, and sixth long ball of the season.It's been a disappointing season for Harper, but he has picked things up at the plate recently, with three homers and seven RBI in the last week.
Aug 13 2014Harper went 2-for-4 Tuesday with his fifth home run of the season.He keeps teasing a breakout, with two home runs and three multi-hit games in his last five starts. Expect the Nationals to keep trotting Harper out there despite his weak .254/.338/.380 slash line on the season, especially with Jayson Werth banged up, as the club will need Harper's bat to wake up if they want to hold onto their lead in the NL East.
Aug 7 2014Harper went 2-for-6 with a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning on Thursday against the Mets.It's no secret that Harper's been struggling since coming off the DL, but he seemed to figure something out on Thursday, as he started 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, then delivered a sharp single and the homer in extras. Keep an eye out over the next couple days to see if he can carry this over.
Aug 6 2014Manager Matt Williams quashed any speculation the Nationals would consider sending Harper to the minors, Mark Zuckerman of CSNwashington.com reports. "[Harper's] one of the guys on our team," Williams said Wednesday. "He's a very important part of our team. Just like everybody else is."Williams raised some eyebrows Wednesday morning when he entertained a question about Harper being sent to the minors in a radio interview, but he emphatically dispelled the idea later in the day. Harper is batting .214 since his return from a thumb injury, with just five extra-base hits in 98 at-bats, and the frustration showed Tuesday night when he spiked his helmet after flying out to the warning track.
Aug 4 2014Harper is back in the lineup Monday against the Orioles, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper was given a routine day of rest Sunday afternoon, but he'll be back in action against right-hander Kevin Gausman on Monday. The 21-year-old Harper will resume his regular role in left field, batting sixth in the order.
Aug 3 2014Harper is out of the lineup Sunday vs. the Phillies, MASN Sports reports.Despite his tasty 8-for-25 (.320) batting line against opposing starter Cole Hamels, Harper will receive a rest Sunday, as manager Matt Williams looks to preserve him for a possible playoff run. His absence opens the door for Scott Hairston, who has even more delightful career numbers against Hamels. Harper has begun to heat up at the plate since the All-Star break, batting .300/.407/.400 over his last 15 games.
Jul 30 2014Harper was the only Nat to have much success against Henderson Alvarez on Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a walk.That's back-to-back two-hit games for Harper, who may be heating up at the right time with Ryan Zimmerman once again on the DL.
Jul 21 2014Harper is out of the lineup Monday against the Rockies.Harper had just been starting to heat up, going 6-for-14 at the plate with a double and a home run over his last four games. However, with lefty Franklin Morales on the hill for the Rockies, manager Matt Williams will move Ryan Zimmerman to left field, send Anthony Rendon to the hot corner and start Danny Espinosa at second base in order to give Harper a day of rest.
Jul 18 2014Harper was 3-for-4 with a solo home run in a losing effort against the Brewers on Friday night.After missing all of May and June with a thumb injury, Harper has yet to get his groove back. The home run - it came in the ninth inning - was just his third of the season, and he has just 12 RBI. The three hits did boost his average to .260, but the Nationals need more productive games like this from their young slugger if they want the NL East title.
Jul 12 2014Harper is out of the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Phillies.Harper, who finally hit his second home run of the season Friday to break out of an 0-for-15 slide, will give way to Scott Hairston on Saturday after starting 10 straight games. It makes sense, as Harper seemed to be pressing a bit Friday -- he saw just five pitches in his four at-bats -- and Hairston is 15-for-38 (.395 average) with five homers in his career against Hamels.
Jul 11 2014Harper was 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a losing effort against the Phillies on Friday night.Harper tore a ligament in his thumb in late April and missed all of May and June so his numbers are understandably soft with just two home runs and 11 RBI to go with a lackluster .246 average. However, he did put on a bit of a power display at the end of his rehab assignment so their is hope he'll get settled back in and produce the kind of firepower he is capable of when healthy.
Jun 30 2014Harper went 1-for-3 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk Monday against the Rockies.Harper was able to put together a productive night in his first game back from the disabled list and fantasy owners who have patiently been waiting for his return should make sure he is back in their lineups.
Jun 30 2014Harper is back in the lineup Monday night against the Rockies. He'll bat sixth and start in left field.Harper crushed four long balls in 14 at-bats during his rehab assignment, so the Nationals wasted no time in getting him back into action. He'll take over his regular role in left field, sending Ryan Zimmerman back to the hot corner, and Anthony Rendon over to second base.
Jun 30 2014Harper (thumb) has been activated from the 15-day DL, MLB.com's William Ladson reports.Harper went 9-for-14 at the plate with four homers during his rehab assignment, making it pretty clear that he was ready for a return to the Nationals. He'll likely resume his regular role in left field, while it remains to be seen how manager Matt Williams will restructure the rest of his lineup. Xavier Cedeno was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move.
Jun 29 2014Harper (thumb) is not in the Sunday lineup at Double-A Harrisburg, a sign he'll be activated by the Nationals on Monday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper erased any remaining concern about the thumb injury presenting an issue for him by swatting three homers and driving in five runs Saturday. Fantasy owners can feel comfortable reinserting Harper into their lineups during the upcoming week.
Jun 29 2014Harper (thumb) crushed three home runs in Saturday's rehab appearance for Double-A Harrisburg, the Washington Post reports.He spread the blasts around, hitting one each to left, center and right field, and it seems safe to say that Harper is ready to be activated from the DL. Look for him to rejoin the Nats roster on Monday.
Jun 28 2014Harper (thumb) may still return Monday, but manager Matt Williams wants him to play in back-to-back full games before being activated, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper's rehab assignment has gone smoothly thus far, in fact he's 5-for-9 with a homer, six RBI, two steals and five walks in four games. He may DH on Saturday, but if not, the team could end up keeping him down for another couple games. Either way, a return by mid-week seems likely. Manager Matt Williams said he's decided how he's going to divvy up the playing time when Harper comes off the DL, but he did not disclose his plan.
Jun 26 2014Harper (thumb) will play seven innings in right field for Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday as part of his rehab, the Nationals' official Twitter feed reports.He saw five innings of action in Tuesday's High-A game with Potomac, and is on track to return to the Nationals at some point next week.
Jun 26 2014Harper (thumb) may rejoin the Nationals as soon as Monday, the Washington Post reports.Harper will spend time at each of the three outfield spots over the next few days, and the Nats will likely evaluate his status toward the end of the weekend. Even if he isn't activated Monday, Harper should be ready by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Jun 25 2014After taking Wednesday off to lift weights and rest his injured thumb, Harper is expected to move his rehab to Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.Harper saw action in center field for five innings Tuesday night at High-A Potomac, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk. He has said that he intends to play seven games in the minors during his rehab assignment, putting him on track to return to the Nationals at some point next week.
Jun 24 2014Harper (thumb) played three innings in left field and went 1-for-1 with a walk in his two plate appearances for Single-A Potomac Monday night.After Seeing his first game action since tearing a ligament in his left thumb back on April 26, Harper told Mark Zuckerman of Comcas SportsNet that he felt good and went on to say that "I thought I had two pretty good ABs." The 21-year-old All-Star is now expected to play five innings in center field Tuesday night as his rehab assignment continues to set him on a pace for an early-July return to the Nationals' lineup.
Jun 23 2014Harper (thumb) is scheduled to play three innings in left field during Monday night's rehab assignment in High-A Potomac, Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington reports.Harper is expected to bump his playing time up to five innings Tuesday, and should see reps in all three outfield positions. The tentative plan is for Harper to play seven rehab games, with two days off at some point in between, but this could always be adjusted based on his health and performance. If everything goes as planned, Harper could see the big leagues prior to the All-Star break. He's been out of action since April 25 after having surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb.
Jun 21 2014Harper (thumb), who will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Potomac on Monday, is on track to rejoin the Nationals on July 2, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.The current plan is for Harper to play seven rehab games, with a pair of off days mixed in. Of course, the Nats could switch things up, if Harper looks better or worse than expected.
Jun 21 2014Harper (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Potomac on Monday, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.The plan is for Harper to play Monday and Tuesday, before taking a day off Wednesday. It's unclear whether he is expected to move up a level after Wednesday, but he should be back to the majors in early July, or perhaps at the very end of June.
Jun 20 2014Manager Matt Williams said Harper (thumb) could start a rehab assignment during the team's upcoming road trip.The Nationals leave for Milwaukee on Monday, and while nothing's set in stone, it sounds like Harper could start playing in minor league games while the team is away. Harper created quite a buzz during batting practice Thursday, his first batting practice session since undergoing surgery on his thumb, easily smacking several balls over the fence. He reported some tenderness in the thumb Friday, but that was to be expected. The team is still eyeing a July 1 return from the DL.
Jun 19 2014Harper took on-field batting practice Thursday for the first time since thumb surgery, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper was able to take soft toss swings Tuesday, but Thursday represented another significant step in his recovery. Harper didn't just take swings Thursday, he crushed the ball on several occasions, hitting multiple balls over the fence in succession. If this type of hitting continues, it's only a matter of time before Harper is cleared for a rehab assignment, while he remains on track for an early-July return.
Jun 17 2014Harper (thumb) took two-handed swings in the cage Tuesday, Dan Kolko of MASN reports.Progressing from dry swinging, Harper hit soft-toss Tuesday for the first time since suffering the thumb injury in late April. The 21-year-old has been fielding light grounders and is expected to play catch at some point this week, but the team is still targeting early July for his return.
Jun 14 2014Harper (thumb) will take light swings and play catch next week, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper won't take batting practice, but that could be the next step, if he feels fine while swinging. Nationals manager Matt Williams said at the beginning of June that the team hopes to have Harper back by July 1. While that's probably on the optimistic side, the young outfielder seems to be on track for early July.
Jun 4 2014Harper (thumb) fielded some light grounders Tuesday, Dan Kolko of MASN reports.Slowly but surely, Harper is ramping up his activity as he rehabilitates from surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. He was seen throwing in the outfield last week and was able to do some light field work prior to Tuesday's game. Manager Matt Williams said there is no firm timetable for Harper's return, but added that he's hoping to have him back by July 1.
May 26 2014Harper (thumb) was seen throwing in the outfield prior to Monday's game, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.Harper participated in light throwing, but had a trainer by his side to catch the return throws. It's a step in the right direction, but it looks like he still has a ways to go before being cleared for fielding drills and batting practice. An early-July return still seems like the most realistic possibility for Harper.
May 16 2014Harper (thumb) will see a specialist next week for a follow-up exam, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Since getting his stitches removed earlier in the week, Harper has resumed lifting and some light workouts, but he is still in a brace and there's a ways to go in the healing process. Perhaps he'll be cleared for more activity after his next exam, but early July still looks like the most realistic estimate for Harper's return.
May 12 2014Harper got the stitches out of his thumb Monday, but is still not ready for real rehab activities, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.This was an inevitable step in Harper's recovery from thumb surgery two weeks ago, and he will still be sidelined for six-to-eight more weeks.
May 6 2014Harper will have the stitches removed from his thumb on the team's upcoming road trip, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Just a week removed from surgery to a repair a torn UCL in his thumb, Harper is close to having his stitches removed. However, it will likely be several more weeks before he can start up with any significant rehabilitation exercises, and he's not expected to rejoin the major league club for at least two months.
Apr 29 2014Harper had successful surgery Tuesday to repair the UCL in his left thumb, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports. An unnamed source indicated that Harper will miss at least two months, while suggesting that Harper could play again after the All-Star break.If Harper is unable to return to the Nats until after the All-Star break, perhaps it's believed that he'll begin a minor league rehab assign in approximately two months, while having a big league return timetable closer to two-and-a-half months. In either case, his absence will be a lengthy one for the Nats and Harper owners to deal with.
Apr 28 2014Harper will have surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and he's expected to be out until at least early July, ESPN's Keith Law reports.The news of surgery and the specific nature of the procedure ultimately confirmed one of the worst-case scenarios that was previously floated about for Harper's injury. Nate McLouth figures to pick up the bulk of the extra playing time while Harper is sidelined, while there will be questions regarding how quickly Harper will be able to regain his power upon his eventual return.
Apr 28 2014Harper is feared to need "significantly longer" than the allotted 15-day DL stay, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.Harper will see a hand specialist on Monday, which should provide more concrete information on a recovery timetable, but "unnamed sources" within the Nationals' organization don't sound too optimistic. In a worst-case scenario, Harper could be looking at a 6-to-8 week absence, similar to Josh Hamilton's timetable, who also injured his thumb on an head-first slide into first base. If there's any good news that has emerged from Nationals' camp, it's that his X-rays have returned negative, according to manager Matt Williams. While Harper remains sidelined, Nate McLouth is a likely candidate to resume much of his playing time in the Nat's outfield.
Apr 27 2014Harper (thumb) has been placed on the 15-day DL, reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.This news certainly comes as a big blow to the Nationals and fantasy owners alike, as Harper (thumb) will indeed be out of action for at least the next couple of weeks after an ill-fated head-first slide into third base Friday night.
Apr 26 2014Harper (thumb) will likely sit out Sunday's game in order to have three consecutive days off, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.The results of the MRI that Harper had Saturday should be made available Sunday, which will provide more clarity regarding the severity of the injury. The Nationals are off Monday, which could make the decision to use Harper in weekly formats more challenging depending on the information the Nats are willing to provide Sunday.
Apr 26 2014Harper will undergo an MRI on his injured thumb, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.Initial X-rays were negative and the team has said that they don't think Harper will miss more than a game or two, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Harper hurt the thumb on a head-first slide into the third base bag Friday night, and was replaced in left by Kevin Frandsen on Saturday afternoon.
Apr 26 2014Harper will see a hand specialist Saturday morning, the Washington Post reports.A jammed thumb, which Harper sustained on a head-first slide into third base Friday, will keep the 21-year-old out of the lineup Saturday, but the Nats do not anticipate he will miss more than a game or two. X-rays were negative, and Harper said he could have kept playing Friday.
Apr 26 2014Harper (wrist) is out of the lineup Saturday against the Padres.Harper jammed his wrist on a head-first slide Friday, but X-rays were negative and the team does not believe the injury is serious. He will, however, be forced to miss at least one start, and his status for Sunday's series finale is up in the air. Kevin Frandsen will man left field in his absence Saturday.
Apr 25 2014Harper left Friday's game after jamming his wrist sliding into third base on a bases clearing triple, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.Nate McLouth took over in left field, and we'll await word on how serious the injury is. Harper's young career has been plagued by minor bumps and bruises due to his all-out nature of play, so this wasn't out of character. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Apr 20 2014After being removed prematurely in Saturday's contest, Harper returned to the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, going 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in the win.Manager Matt Williams cited Harper's "lack of hustle" as the reason for Saturday's early hook, but he showed plenty of speed Sunday in claiming his first steal of the season. Harper batted in his usual second spot in the order Sunday, so consider Saturday's punishment just a one-time deal for the young outfielder.
Apr 20 2014A day after being removed by manager Matt Williams for lack of hustle, Harper is in the lineup for Sunday's game against St. Louis, batting second.Williams said that was going to be the extent of Harper's penalty, and he kept his word. Harper is batting .295 with a .775 OPS through 61 at-bats, but he's been slow out of the gate in the power department with one homer and five RBI.
Apr 19 2014Harper was removed from Saturday's game for a "lack of hustle," according to manager Matt Williams, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.Fantasy owners can take comfort in knowing that Harper's removal was unrelated to the quad tightness he's been nursing in recent days. Williams decided to make a statement to his team by removing Harper for not hustling down the first base line in the sixth inning, but this likely isn't something that could affect his long-term playing time.
Apr 19 2014Harper left Saturday's game against the Cardinals after six innings, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.Harper was replaced by Kevin Frandsen in left field to begin the top of the seventh inning. A reason for his removal has not been given, but Harper has been dealing with left quad tightness in recent days and he may very well have aggravated the muscle.
Apr 17 2014Harper (quadriceps) will return to lineup Thursday against the Cardinals, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Harper needed just one day out of the lineup to get over the left quad tightness that resulted in him being scratched Wednesday. Harper was starting to heat up prior to dealing with the injury, recording a hit in eight straight games to pump his average to .340 on the season.
Apr 16 2014Harper was scratched from the lineup Wednesday because of left quad tightness, the Washington Post's James Wagner reports.He has been playing through the pain in his quad since Friday, and will get the night off Wednesday. The Nationals have a series against the Cardinals coming up on Thursday, and while we wouldn't expect Harper to miss much more time, owners should check his status before lineups lock.
Apr 16 2014Harper is a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup, the Washington Post's James Wagner reports.Tyler Moore will replace Harper in the outfield, and Anthony Rendon will bat second with Nate McLouth leading off. There's no word as to whether his quad issues from a couple days ago are related to him sitting out, but owners should make sure he's out of their lineups Wednesday.
Apr 15 2014Harper went 1-for-4 with a run Tuesday against Miami.He left Monday's game in the seventh inning with a tight quad, but he was back in the lineup Tuesday, and accounted for one of the Nationals' five hits against the Marlins. He should be considered healthy moving forward.
Apr 15 2014Harper (quad) is in the Nationals' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.Of course, it's worth monitoring the Nats' lineup closer to game time to ensure that he remains a part of it, but Harper's presence in the initial lineup suggests he'll be ready to go again Tuesday night after an early departure from Monday's game.
Apr 14 2014Harper left Monday's game in the seventh inning due to a tight quad but is still expected to be in Tuesday's lineup, according to James Wagner of the Washington Post.The quad has reportedly been bothering Harper for the last few days, yet he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple during Monday's game, and now has 12 hits in his last 21 at-bats. We wouldn't expect any stolen bases over the next few days, but Harper should otherwise be productive, assuming he's in the lineup.
Apr 14 2014Harper went 2-for-2 with a double and two walks Sunday.His cold start is ancient history, as Harper now has a six game hitting streak and a .310/.383/.405 line through 42 at-bats.
Apr 10 2014Harper went 2-for-4 Wednesday with his first home run of the season and three RBI.It was just a matter of time before Harper's bat woke up. His .207/.233/.310 line and 1:13 BB:K ratio still look ugly, but it's only been seven games. The young outfielder should be just fine going forward.
Apr 9 2014Harper will bat seventh in Wednesday's lineup against the Marlins, ">CSN Washington reports.Harper carries a .160 average into Wednesday's game and may remain in the bottom half of the order until he shows some signs of busting out of his slump. Even players of Harper's considerable talent level are prone to lengthy dry spells on occasion, so this would seem to be a great time to buy low on him if his fantasy owners are panicking.
Apr 6 2014Harper is not in Sunday's starting lineup for the Nationals.Harper is simply getting a day off to attempt to clear his head from the current 3-for-21 slump he is struggling through. A match-up with tough Braves lefty Alex Wood seems like an appropriate time for the decision. Harper should return to the lineup on Tuesday versus the Marlins.
Apr 5 2014Manager Matt Williams said Harper might get Sunday off, according to James Wagner of the Washington Post.An 0-for-4 day Saturday dropped Harper to just 3-for-21 with no extra-base hits and 10 strikeouts on the season. Harper admitted he is frustrated, but it is important to remember it is just one week of the season.
Apr 3 2014Harper, who hit sixth on Wednesday, will bat second in Thursday's game against the Mets.New Nats manager Matt Williams is still tinkering with his lineups, but his goal appears to be finding a spot for Harper that will allow him more freedom on the basepaths. If the kid can stay healthy, he could end up providing more steals than anticipated this season.
Apr 2 2014Harper (head) went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in Wednesday's win over the Mets.While the results were far from special, that he was able to play all nine innings after being kicked in the head on Opening Day suggests that he's OK despite a collision that could have led to a concussion.
Apr 2 2014Harper jogged onto the field for Wednesday's pregame warmups, indicating he passed his final concussion test, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.The 21-year-old was involved in a collision at second base on Opening Day, with his head hitting the shin of the Mets' Eric Young Jr. Harper passed concussion tests during and after the game, but indicated he was dealing with a headache. Fortunately, it seems no symptoms popped up during Tuesday's off-day, and Harper is set to start in left field and bat sixth Wednesday against right-hander Bartolo Colon. He didn't bat sixth once last season.
Mar 31 2014Harper left the field during Monday's season opener in the top of the second inning after suffering an apparent head injury in a collision with Mets second baseman Eric Young Jr. However, he returned to take the field in the bottom of the second.Harper's head collided with Young's shin in a play at second base, knocking off Harper's helmet and leaving him on the ground clutching his head for a couple minutes before he was able to walk off under his own power. Despite concussion concerns, Harper didn't end up leaving the game. We'll keep an eye out for how he comes along.
Mar 31 2014Harper passed two concussion tests Monday - one during the game and one afterwards, Nats Insider reports. He is still dealing with a headache, however. "I feel all right. It was his knee or his shin, he kind of blew me up a little bit. I feel okay now. I just got a pretty bad headache, things like that. No haziness or dizziness. That's a plus. But my head hurts pretty bad right now."Harper and the Nats get the day off Tuesday, so we'll have some time to see if there are any adverse effects before he plays next.
Mar 20 2014Harper hit fifth on Wednesday, going 0-for-3, as Nationals' manager Matt Williams previewed what could be his Opening Day lineup.This seems a bit low in the order for the young phenom, but Williams might be more comfortable having his veteran sluggers Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth bat third and fourth respectively. Harper's also having a bit of a rough spring, hitting just .185 (5-for-27) with a .296 SLG, but if and when he starts launching tape measure shots his manager might have no choice but to slide him up a spot or two.
Mar 13 2014Harper (chest cold) will play Thursday and rest Friday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.It seems the illness is very minor, as Harper will be able to take the field Thursday. The 21-year-old has gone 4-for-17 with one home run, one steal, three walks and two strikeouts in seven games so far this spring.
Mar 5 2014Harper (illness) went 1-for-2 in Wednesday's exhibition game against the Mets.Harper returned to the lineup after being sent home with flu-like symptoms Sunday. He seems to have turned the corner with the illness and is back in action for the Nationals.
Mar 2 2014Harper went 0-for-1 Saturday with two walks and a stolen base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves.Nothing says "my knee is 100 percent healthy" like an early spring steal. After racking up 18 steals as a rookie, Harper swiped just 11 bags last season due to his knee issues, but with new Nats manager Matt Williams promising to be more aggressive on the basepaths it's not hard to imagine Harper topping 20 steals if he can stay in one piece.
Mar 2 2014Harper was sent home Sunday morning with flu-like symptoms, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.With Harper under the weather, the Nats decided it was best to send him home as to not jeopardize the health of other players on the team. Look for Harper to return to action early next week.
Feb 20 2014New Nationals manager Matt Williams has considered batting Harper (knee) as low as fifth this season, the Washington Post reports.Batting in that spot might afford Harper with more base-stealing opportunities, but would also cost him at-bats. The biggest driver of Harper's fantasy value this year is going to be health, however, so this isn't something worth worrying about at the moment.
Feb 15 2014Nationals manager Matt Williams said that Harper (knee) is a full-go for the beginning of camp, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.Williams also said that Harper will be closely monitored, but it sounds like the 21-year-old outfielder is approaching full health following October knee surgery. Harper played with a sore left knee throughout the 2013 season and recently said that the problematic knee is pain-free for the first time in nearly a year. Given his age and improved health, the supremely talented outfielder could take a big step in 2014, after showing small signs of progress during his sophomore campaign.
Jan 25 2014Harper (knee) resumed sprinting three weeks ago and is pleased with his progress following offseason surgery. He's unsure if he will be 100 percent when he reports to spring training, however, according to Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post.While the uncertainty about his ability to report to spring training at full health might seem discouraging, the fact that Harper is pleased with his progress and that he's been able to sprint for three weeks already is a better indication of where he's at. Further, he indicated that he's pain-free for the first time in nearly a year. Harper will be monitored closely throughout the spring, but his workload when Grapefruit League games begin will be more telling of his status.
Oct 26 2013Harper had surgery to repair the bursa sac in his left knee Friday, Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reports.It's expected that he will be ready for the start of spring training, as Harper is facing a four-to-six week timetable for his recovery. Harper was previously optimistic about the possibility of avoiding a procedure, but perhaps the operation will help minimize the issues he was forced to play through in 2013.
Sep 30 2013Harper said that he will not require offseason surgery on his left knee or hip, the Washington Post reports.The plan for Harper includes resting for a month at his offseason home in Las Vegas. His offseason training goal with weight training is to report to spring training "as big as a house." Despite playing through nagging injuries for a significant portion of the 2013 season, the 20-year-old Harper delivered an impressive .274/.368/.486 over his 497 plate appearances.
Sep 29 2013Harper is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com reports.Depending on how you look at it, manager Davey Johnson is either punishing or rewarding his regulars by sitting them for the final game of the season. Considering the Nationals were the odds-on favorite in the NL East at the start of the year, it's fair to the team underachieved.
Sep 19 2013Harper went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in Thursday's 3-2 win over Miami.Harper's 20th home run of the season provided all the offense Washington needed. He's hit well in September, including at least two hits in four of his last six games, but he hadn't gone deep since August 29.
Sep 16 2013Harper went 3-for-5 Sunday with two doubles, three runs scored and a stolen base.All that running is a solid sign that his hip and knee are feeling OK. Harper's now hitting .313 through 32 September at-bats with a .436 OBP, but the doubles were his first extra-base hits on the month and he has just one RBI. With the Nats clinging to life in the wild card race, now would be a great time for Harper's power stroke to come to life.
Sep 11 2013Harper (hip) is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Mets.Harper has missed five of the team's last six games as a result of the hip injury, but he'll return Wednesday, as expected, to right-hander Zack Wheeler. The Nationals still have an outside chance of earning a wild card spot, so expect the team to play Harper as frequently as his health allows over the final few weeks.
Sep 10 2013Harper (hip) is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday, CSN's Mark Zuckerman reports.The Nationals have not provided an official update on Harper's status, but manager Davey Johnson plans to start him Wednesday barring any setbacks prior to the beginning of that game. Be sure to check for another update on Harper's status prior to the beginning of Wednesday's contest.
Sep 9 2013Harper's recent evaluation in Washington revealed inflammation in his left hip, which will keep him out of the lineup for two more days, MLB.com reports.Saturday's tests found no other issue with Harper's hip, which is an encouraging sign that he'll be able to finish out the season. In what capacity he'll be able to do so remains to be seen, but it appears that his earliest return date will arrive Wednesday at the Mets.
Sep 7 2013Harper will fly back to Washington on Sunday for further tests on his ailing left hip, which he aggravated before Saturday's game, the Washington Post reports. "It's something we need to aggressively attack," manager Davey Johnson said. "We've been kind of treating it as a slight hip strain. But obviously, it's something more serious than that. We need to fix it, and he needs to finish the year strong."It sounds like Harper may have suffered a significant setback. He didn't play Saturday, as he was a late scratch from the lineup. With Washington fading from the playoff race, it's possible Harper could be shut down the rest of the season, if this is a serious ailment. He could also be back in the lineup Monday, if it's not serious.
Sep 6 2013Harper (hip) is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins.Harper missed Wednesday's game but is back in the lineup following the Nationals' day off. His health will be something to keep an eye on for the rest of September, as he's dealt with a number of nagging issues throughout the season. Despite dealing with some of the aforementioned health issues, Harper slashed .277/.387/.485 in August, with four home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs, and a stolen base. The young slugger is just 2-for-10 through three September games, albeit with four walks and a stolen base.
Sep 4 2013Harper (hip) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Phillies.As expected, Harper will sit Wednesday so that he has two full days to rest his sore left hip. It sounds like Harper has a good chance to be ready when the team resumes play Friday, but fantasy owners may want to confirm prior to the first pitch.
Sep 4 2013Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he hopes Harper (hip) will be able to return Friday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.The hip is still bothering Harper, but the Nats are hoping that two full days of rest will alleviate the pain enough to where he can return to action. The team needs Harper to get healthy to have any chance of capturing a Wild card spot in the National League.
Sep 3 2013Harper will play both Tuesday and Wednesday in Philadelphia, the Washington Post reports.With an off day Thursday, the team's training staff, which has deemed Harper's hip to be fine, should be able to remain in the lineup going forward. However, because he seemed hobbled Monday, expect occasional days off in order to ensure a setback is avoided.
Sep 3 2013Contrary to previous reports, Harper is scheduled to get the day off Wednesday against the Phillies to rest his sore left hip, Nationals.com reports.Harper played in Tuesday's win over the Phillies, but manager Davey Johnson is taking the opportunity to give his slugger two full days of rest (the Nats are off Thursday). Denard Span is the most likely candidate to start in Harper's place.
Sep 2 2013Though he has been receiving treatment on his hip and appeared to be a bit hobbled Monday night, Harper is expected to play Tuesday, the Washington Times' Amanda Comak reports.Harper is clearly banged up at this stage of the year, as it was recently reported that he may undergo knee surgery in the offseason. The 20-year-old outfielder may require a few extra days off for maintenance in September, but it sounds like he should play Tuesday and will try to tough it out.
Sep 1 2013Harper may need offseason knee surgery, Tom Schad of MLB.com reports.Nats manager Davey Johnson thinks Harper's left knee might still be bothering him, and offseason surgery to remove his bursa sac to avoid future issues is still on the table.
Aug 29 2013Harper went 2-for-3 with a homer, three runs scored and pair of RBI in Thursday's win at Washington.Harper's two-run homer in the fourth inning was his 19th long ball of the season, and extended his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games. Harper also had a walk in the game, and his plate discipline has improved quite a bit since last season, as he's nearly drawn as many free passes this year in 44 fewer games (56 walks in 2012, 51 walks in 2013).
Aug 23 2013Harper went 1-for-3 with a double, three RBI, a run scored, two walks and a stolen base against the Royals on Friday.It's been a down month, but Harper has now hit safely in six straight games since coming back from a recent back injury and is batting .375 (9-for-24) over that span. He's now hitting .270 on the season with 17 home runs, 43 RBI and seven stolen bases this season and while he may not match the counting stats of his rookie year, he's made improvements in his plate discipline numbers which can only lead to better numbers in the future.
Aug 17 2013Harper was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Braves, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.The bad blood between Harper and the Braves continued Friday, as he was plunked twice during the series opener. Scott Hairston will fill the void in left field Saturday, while Harper should be considered day-to-day heading into Sunday.
Aug 17 2013Harper was scratched from Saturday's lineup with a bruised upper left arm, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com reports.As suspected, Harper's removal from the lineup has to do with him being hit by not one, but two pitches during Friday's game. The bruise is reportedly near Harper's upper triceps area.
Aug 17 2013Harper (bruised triceps) did not start Saturday's game, but he went 0-for-2 after entering in the ninth.He entered as a defensive replacement for Scott Hairston, and he nearly played a full game in a contest bound for 15 innings. Expect him back in the lineup Sunday.
Aug 14 2013Harper (illness) will return to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.Harper took batting practice before Tuesday's game and was later used as a pinch hitter, so it was all but assumed that he'd be back in the lineup Wednesday. Fantasy owners can use him as they normally would, as the illness is no longer a concern.
Aug 13 2013Harper (illness) took batting practice before Tuesday's game, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.Harper isn't in the lineup, but this bodes well for his chances to return for Wednesday's game. The young slugger may even be available off the bench Tuesday night, should the Nationals need a pinch hitter.
Aug 13 2013Harper is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants, the Washington Post's James Wagner reports.Assuming he needs a rest at some point, this is a good game for Harper to miss. He's been slumping a bit, and his Nationals are facing a tough lefty in San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner. Harper will likely return to the lineup Wednesday to face Tim Lincecum.
Aug 13 2013Harper is out of Tuesday's lineup due to illness, the Washington Post's James Wagner reports.Harper reportedly spent all of Monday in bed, but it would still be surprising if he misses more than a game or two. Tuesday's game is a good one to miss, as the Nationals are facing a tough lefty in San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner. Harper has a .172/.270/.276 slash line in 101 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season.
Aug 6 2013Harper went 2-for-4 with a homer and was hit by a pitch Tuesday in a loss to the Braves.Julio Teheran hit him with the pitch in response to Harper admiring the moonshot Harper blasted to dead center off him. That'll happen. Despite a couple strikeouts, it all adds up to a nice game for Harper, who'd gone hitless for three straight.
Aug 2 2013Harper (hip) is in the lineup Friday against the Brewers.As the Nationals suggested after he left Wednesday's game prematurely with a hip spasm, Harper is feeling fine after Thursday's off day and is back atop the order for the Nationals. The team doesn't expect the issue to present any problems for Harper going forward.
Aug 2 2013Harper went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI in the Nationals' win over the Brewers on Friday.He exited the Nationals' last game with a hip injury, but he showed no ill effects from that condition come Friday. Harper hit leadoff for the 10th time this season, and he is now 13-for-52 (.310) with three home runs over those starts.
Jul 31 2013Harper left Wednesday's game in the eighth inning with a possible injury, the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore reports.Harper was looked at by trainers during an at-bat earlier in the game, so it rose some red flags when he came out in the eighth inning. Of course, the Nationals were down 11-1 at the time, so perhaps Harper was just removed for precautionary reasons. Hopefully we'll know more soon.
Jul 31 2013Harper suffered merely a hip spasm Wednesday afternoon and is expected to be fine moving forward, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.It was the spasm that caused Haper to be removed from the game, but he should be in the lineup as soon as tomorrow.
Jul 28 2013Harper (knee) went 2-for-4 Saturday with a two-run home run, his 15th blast of the season.Despite his balky knee, Harper is now 11-for-33 in nine games since the All-Star break with two home runs in his last three starts. Harper's fantasy owners will just have to live with the occasional games he'll miss over the rest of the year.
Jul 27 2013Harper (knee) said he's good to go for Saturday's game against the Mets, Amanda Comak of The Washington Times reports.The Nats' lineup for Saturday has not been revealed yet, but it sounds like there is a good chance that Harper will be in it after sitting out the second game of Friday's doubleheader.
Jul 27 2013Harper (knee) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against the Mets.As Harper suggested early Saturday afternoon, he's ready to roll again after being held out of the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader.
Jul 26 2013Harper is out of the lineup for the second game of Friday's doubleheader after aggravating his left knee injury on a diving attempt in Game 1, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com reports.His left knee was sore Wednesday, and the Nationals took precaution and held Harper out of the lineup, but the 20-year-old went out Thursday and put on a show (3-for-5 with walk-off homer). Unfortunately, he aggravated the ailment Friday, and while the extent of the setback is uncertain, the team will again play it safe by holding Harper out for the nightcap.
Jul 25 2013Harper (knee) is back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.Harper was held out Wednesday with knee soreness, but it appears that that was only minor, as he is back in action Thursday. Harper will man left field and bat leadoff Thursday afternoon.
Jul 25 2013Harper, batting leadoff for just the fifth time this year, went 3-for-5 with a two-run, walk-off homer and three runs scored Thursday against Pittsburgh.It was his first long ball since July 1, as it's been an awfully tough month for Harper, who's dealt with nagging knee issues since running face-first (and knee second) into the outfield wall in May.
Jul 24 2013Harper is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.Harper, who has been batting leadoff lately, will get a rare day off as Scott Hairston starts in left field. Harper will likely return to the lineup for Thursday's games.
Jul 24 2013Harper is being held out of Wednesday's game with soreness in his left knee, the Washington Post reports.The injury does not sound serious at this point, but the left knee is the same one that Harper injured earlier this season, so the Nationals will take the cautious route in an effort to prevent him from landing back on the disabled list. With that being said, don't be surprised if Harper is held out for another day or two if his knee is still sore.
Jul 23 2013Harper, still batting in the leadoff spot, went 1-for-3 Monday with a walk.Nats manager Davey Johnson's desperation to get his offense going is on full display right now, and while Harper hasn't been bad (5-for-20 with three walks) in five games since moving to the top of the order his power stroke would play a lot better a spot or two further down. Of course he hasn't homered in a live game since July 1, but the long balls will return soon enough.
Jul 14 2013Harper will bat leadoff Sunday against the Marlins.With the Nationals mustering just five runs in their last three games, manager Davey Johnson will attempt to get the offense kick-started with by mixing up his batting order Sunday. Harper's batting below the Mendoza Line since returning from the DL (.196 average), but he'll move up to the top of the lineup Sunday for the first time all season.
Jul 9 2013Harper went 0-for-3 Tuesday against the Phillies and is now just 7-for-31 (.226) since returning from a knee injury at the start of July.It's been a roller coaster for Harper since returning, as he homered in his first game back, went hitless for four games, collected six hits in the next three games, and now has gone hitless again. Keep rolling him out there; the further removed Harper gets from the injury, the more consistency he should show.
Jul 8 2013Harper went 3-for-4 Sunday with a walk, two runs scored, and RBI and two stolen bases.After going 4-for-6 over the weekend it's probably safe to say Nats manager Davey Johnson got the reaction he wanted out of Harper when he threatened to sit him down for a couple of days to let him clear his head. Expect the young phenom to stay in the lineup straight through the All-Star break as the club looks to build some momentum heading into the second half.
Jul 6 2013Harper is in fact in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Padres.Following Friday's game, manager Davey Johnson stated that Harper would likely sit out the rest of the weekend, as a mental and physical break was required. However, despite a 1-for-19 stretch since his activation from the DL on Monday, Harper has presumably talked his way into the lineup. If he again struggles at the plate, though, Johnson could force him to stay on the pine Sunday, with a seven-game road trip on tap -- four in Philadelphia and three at Miami -- leading into the All-Star break.
Jul 5 2013Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that Harper is in need of both a mental and physical break and will likely get the rest of the weekend off, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington reports.Harper hit a home run in his first game back from the disabled list, but that has been his only hit in 19 at-bats over the five games since his return, including an 0-for-4 performance Friday. The move will sting fantasy owners in leagues with weekly roster moves, but should benefit them and the Nationals young star in the long run. He'll likely be available to pinch hit if needed, but you can expect him back early next week.
Jul 1 2013Harper (knee) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Monday against the Brewers.Harper wasted no time returning from the DL as he hit a home run in the first inning. He already has 13 home runs in 45 games this season, so he could easily surpass his mark of 22 home runs last season if he can stay healthy.
Jul 1 2013Harper (knee) was reinstated from the 15-day DL on Monday.Harper was placed on the DL back on June 1 and has not played since May 26. The Nationals' young star has been dealing with swelling in his knee that he said dates back to an injury suffered in early May. Harper began a rehab assignment last week for High-A Potomac and came away without any setbacks, and he is expected to join the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
Jun 29 2013Harper (knee) is expected to return to the Nationals' lineup Monday, James Wagner of The Washington Post reports.Thus far, Harper is experiencing minimal swelling while going through his rehab assignment. The decision will ultimately be up to general manager Mike Rizzo and be determined by how Harper's knee feels Sunday and early Monday. Harper went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in his rehab game at Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday.
Jun 28 2013Harper (knee) will get a scheduled day off Friday before resuming his rehab at Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday, Washington Times reports.The bursitis in Harper's left knee did not flare up after three straight rehab games, and while manager Davey Johnson has indicated he'd like to activate Harper before Monday, the expectation is still that the 20-year-old will return to the big club Monday.
Jun 27 2013Harper (knee) is scheduled to play a full nine innings in a rehab game with Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday, the Washington Post reports.Harper's innings were limited in his first two rehab games, but he will attempt to play an entire game Thursday for the first time since landing on the disabled list. If Harper is able to make it through Thursday's game without setback, he should be activated by the Nationals on Monday, when the team's series against the Brewers kicks off.
Jun 27 2013Harper (knee) is expected to return from the disabled list Monday against the Brewers.Harper's return is contingent on how he checks out during a rehab assignment over the weekend at Double-A Harrisburg. He's slated to play nine innings in the outfield both Thursday and Friday, which should provide a good gauge of how his knee feels.
Jun 26 2013Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said Harper (knee) came through his first rehab game fine and will play six innings Wednesday, the Washington Times reports.Harper's knee was tested on the basepaths and in the outfield Tuesday, and he emereged setback-free. The team is still hopeful Harper will return from the DL on Monday, though the 20-year-old was moved to DH for Wednesday's game because of the potential for a wet field.
Jun 26 2013Harper (knee) went 1-for-3 with a homer over five innings as DH in his second rehab game with High-A Potomac on Wednesday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Of note here, besides the homer, is that Harper fouled a ball off his right foot during the game. It's uncertain whether that could delay his return, but there's been nothing thus far to indicate that it will.
Jun 25 2013Manager Davey Johnson is targeting Monday for Harper's return from his knee injury, the Washington Post reports.Johnson hinted that there was a chance Harper could return this weekend, but Monday appears to be a more realistic date for him to be activated from the disabled list. While fantasy owners will be without Harper's services for a few more days, it appears he should be available again early next week.
Jun 24 2013Harper (knee) will begin his rehab assignment Tuesday with High-A Potomac, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com reports.The plan for Harper's rehab has reportedly changed yet again, because while the 20-year-old didn't expect to be able to play in a game until Wednesday, his schedule was bumped back up after a strong batting practice session Monday. He plans to play three innings in left field Tuesday, then increase his workload each subsequent day with an eye toward returning this weekend.
Jun 23 2013Harper (knee) is expected to begin his rehab assignment Wednesday, the Washington Times reports.The tentative plan is for Harper to work out in Washington on Monday and Tuesday before embarking on the assignment. He stated earlier that he anticipates playing six games in the minors before returning, so don't expect Harper to return from the DL until next week at the earliest.
Jun 21 2013Harper (knee) will likely begin a rehab assignment with High-A Potomac on Tuesday, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.With everything going smoothly Thursday, as Harper resumed baseball activities, manager Davey Johnson said the 20-year-old will likely head out for a rehab assignment early next week. That would make a return to the majors for next weekend's series against the Mets seem like a good possibility.
Jun 20 2013Harper (knee) was able to run and was scheduled to take batting practice Thursday, the Washington Post reports.As expected, Harper resumed baseball activities Thursday. It's not clear how intense his running session was, but it is a positive sign that he has reached that point in his recovery. Manager Davey Johnson believes Harper is close to returning, but he remains without a target date, and he will head out on a rehab assignment before he rejoins the Nationals.
Jun 19 2013GM Mike Rizzo said Harper (knee) will resume baseball activities in "the next day or two," Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.Harper is nearing the next step in his recovery as he works his way back from a lingering knee injury. He remains without a return timetable, but he continues to make progress, and his recovery process could speed up once he demonstrates he can hit, run, and field without issue.
Jun 17 2013Harper (knee) was cleared to resume strengthening activities Monday, CSN's Mark Zuckerman reports.Harper will advance to the next step in his recovery, but the Nationals will still take it easy with him, and he will need to demonstrate he can both walk and job without issue before he begins running again. Harper is moving in the right direction, but the Nationals have still yet to announce a timetable for his return.
Jun 15 2013Harper had some puffiness in his knee after doing some range of motion exercises Friday, but team trainers are unconcerned, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.Since the trainers are unconcerned about the puffiness in Harper's knee, the expectation is that the 20-year-old will test the knee in Philadelphia early next week and should resume baseball activities shortly thereafter.
Jun 14 2013Harper will likely test his left knee while the team is in Philadelphia from Monday through Wednesday and could perhaps perform some baseball activities, the Washington Post reports.This news came from the mouth of Nats skipper Davey Johnson, who also said Harper could head out for a rehab assignment if all goes well in Philadelphia. The 20-year-old Harper received platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections to help in his knee Monday to help reduce the inflammation and possibly get the issue resolved faster.
Jun 11 2013Harper (knee) didn't undergo any "operative procedures" in his visit to Dr. James Andrews on Monday, his agent told the Washington Post reports.Harper was spotted wearing a bulky brace in the airport afterward. So far the team hasn't released any information resulting from the exam, but it doesn't seem very likely that he'll be back from the DL when first eligible this weekend.
Jun 9 2013Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said Sunday that "there's no worry" that Harper may have structural damage in his knee, and he described Harper's visit to Dr. James Andrews as standard protocol, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.Since Harper not making ideal progress in his recovery from a knee injury, the team scheduled a visit to Dr. Andrews for Monday. However, the swelling in the Harper's knee has reportedly diminished in recent days, and the 20-year-old said just a few days ago that he hopes to begin a rehab assignment early next week. Perhaps he'll be given the green light to begin playing in rehab games if everything checks out with Dr. Andrews.
Jun 8 2013Nationals manager Davey Johnson reported that the swelling has gone down in Harper's left knee, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.Harper is scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday and the reduced swelling should make for a clearer evaluation. Harper's knee injury is being labeled as bursitis, which is the inflammation of the bursa sac around the knee joint. The swelling reducing is a positive sign and more information on a return timetable should be learned on Monday after his appointment with Dr. Andrews.
Jun 6 2013Harper (knee) has yet to resume baseball activities, and he will visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday for a second opinion, CSN's Mark Zuckerman reports.Though Harper will visit Dr. Andrews on Monday, he noted that he is still hoping to head out on a rehab assignment early next week. His lack of progress up to this point will prevent him from coming off the disabled list Tuesday when first eligible, but if he is playing in rehab games early next week, that would put him on track to return to the Nationals' lineup before the week ends.
Jun 2 2013Harper (knee) said that his injuries date back to even before the collision with the right field wall in Dodger Stadium, but to a collision with a wall at Turner Field in Atlanta about a month ago, the Washington Post reports. Since that first collision, Harper hit just .188/.312/.359.Harper now believes he should have gone on the DL at that point, though he didn't let the team know how bad his injuries were. "Of course," Harper said. "But I didn't want to go on. I thought hopefully my body could have got past it. I think after I hit the wall here [in Atlanta], I think I should have went on the DL, just try to get better and came back 15 days later. With a lot of guys out, I wanted to stay in the lineup the way I was swinging it. Of course, I want to play every day. It's something that, maybe I'll learn more in my career to take off 15 days instead of lose the month or whatever it is."
Jun 2 2013Harper said his knee hasn't improved over the last few days but hopes to resume baseball activities by the end of the week, CSN Washington reports.With his knee still swollen, Harper will have to rest a little bit longer than anticipated, but he remains optimistic he'll be able to return from the DL when eligible June 11. Steve Lombardozzi will handle duties in left field on most nights in the interim.
Jun 1 2013Harper (knee) has been placed on the 15-day DL, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports.While reliever Erik Davis is expected to be the corresponding callup, there is growing speculation that Anthony Rendon could be headed to Washington in the near future as well after getting promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night. Since the Harper transaction is retroactive, he will be eligible for activation June 11 against Colorado.
May 31 2013Fueling speculation that Harper (knee) could land on the disabled list, Triple-A Syracuse pitcher Erik Davis announced via Twitter on Friday that he was being called up by the Nationals.Given the fact that Stephen Strasburg left Friday's game with an oblique strain, most assumed Davis' impending arrival signified that the injury would land the Nationals ace on the disabled list. But with manager Davey Johnson indicating that Harper would likely miss this weekend's games, a trip to the DL for the outfielder seems more likely.
May 31 2013Manager Davey Johnson said Harper (knee) would likely miss the entire weekend series against the Braves, the Washington Post reports.There's growing concern within the organization that Harper could land on the disabled list after his knee bursitis worsened during a batting practice session Thursday. He will sit out for his fifth straight game Friday.
May 31 2013Harper (knee) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Braves, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.Manager Davey Johnson was hoping that Harper would be able to play Friday after missing the previous four games, but it appears his knee is still a little bit sore. Consider Harper questionable for Saturday's game.
May 29 2013Harper (knee) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.Harper was not expected to play Wednesday, but the Nationals' lineup confirms that he will sit out for the third straight day. Harper will likely sit out Thursday's game as well, but he could return during the Nationals' upcoming series with the Braves, which begins Friday.
May 28 2013Harper (knee) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.As expected, Harper will miss his second straight game Tuesday. The Nationals are optimistic that he will be able to serve as the DH either or both of the next two days with the team playing in Baltimore, so be sure to keep an eye on the Nationals' lineup the next couple days if Harper is part of your fantasy team.
May 28 2013Harper (knee) will sit out Tuesday and is unlikely to play in either of the Nationals' next two games, but manager Davey Johnson does not believe he will need a stint on the disabled list, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.The swelling in Harper's knee has gone down, but the joint is still a little sore, and it's looking like the Nationals will not be able to use him as the DH in Baltimore as they had hoped. Though Harper will miss a couple more games, the good news is he should avoid the disabled list. Fantasy owners should keep tabs on his status to see if his chances of returning this weekend improve over the next couple days.
May 27 2013Manager Davey Johnson said that an MRI on Harper's knee showed no structural damage and that the injury has been diagnosed as bursitis, the Washington Post reports.Johnson said that as a result of the soreness, Harper simply needs a couple days of rest before returning to the lineup. The team is hoping he can serve as the DH in Baltimore either Wednesday or Thursday, which would get his talented bat in the lineup while at the same time reducing the strain on his knee by not forcing him to play the outfield.
May 27 2013Harper (knee) is not in the lineup Monday against the Orioles, the Washington Times reports.To nobody's surprise, manager Davey Johnson will keep his prized outfielder out of the lineup after he was visibly hobbled with his knee injury during Sunday's game. There's a chance he won't appear at all during the four-game series with the Orioles, but that hasn't officially been determined yet.
May 26 2013Manager Davey Johnson said that he would keep Harper out of the lineup over the next few days to rest his ailing knee, the Washington Post reports.Harper was visibly hobbled in the field and on the bases for a good portion of Sunday's game before he was removed in the seventh inning for a pinch-runner. It should be noted that Harper was nonetheless able to steal third base in Sunday's game, so it doesn't seem as though the setback is significant enough to require a DL stint.
May 26 2013Harper was lifted for a pinch runner in the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Phillies. He was limping noticeably with the same knee that he banged against the Dodger Stadium wall nearly two weeks ago.Harper appeared to aggravate that sore knee while stealing third base earlier in the game. With no time off this upcoming week, it'll be difficult for Harper to fully heal.
May 23 2013Harper accounted for all the Nationals' offense on Wednesday, hitting a solo home run in the 6th inning then lacing a double in the 10th then coming around to score the winning run.It was his first multi-hit game in May, as injuries have slowed Harper down after his ridiculous April. He still has 12 home runs on the season and a .288/.383/.612 slash line, but another hot streak may be brewing.
May 20 2013Harper (knee) went 0-for-4 with one strikeout in his return to the lineup Monday night.Harper missed the previous two games with a knee injury that he originally suffered when crashing into the outfield wall last Monday. While he should be a decent bet to play Tuesday, fantasy owners may still want to circle back to make sure Harper is in the lineup.
May 20 2013Harper (knee) will return to the lineup Monday against the Giants.Harper will start at right field after missing the last two games with swelling in his left leg. Make sure to get him back in your lineup.
May 19 2013Harper (knee) remains out of the Nationals' lineup Sunday at San Diego.Harper is still experiencing swelling in his knee as a result of his collision with the right field wall last Monday. His absence will allow Roger Bernadina to cover right field and bat sixth in the order. Nevertheless, Harper should return to the lineup sooner rather than later.
May 19 2013Harper was not in the starting lineup on Saturday due to swelling in his knee, and may sit out Sunday's game as well, the Washington Post reports.Harper's collision with the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium resulted in a number of bumps and bruises, but it's the knee injury that seems to be lingering. He should be back in the lineup by Monday, however.
May 18 2013Harper (head) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres, the Washington Times reports.Harper ran face-first into the outfield wall on Monday and received 11 stitches in his neck. He sat out Tuesday's game, but was back in the lineup on Thursday and Friday. Harper has struggled against lefties this season (.147 batting average), and with southpaw Eric Stults on the mound for San Diego on Saturday, the decision to hold him out is likely a combination of his struggles and an opportunity for additional recovery time.
May 16 2013Harper (head) hit a solo home run in Thursday's win at San Diego.Harper started for the first time since Monday, and barring any setbacks, looks safe to use again moving forward.
May 16 2013Harper (head) is back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.Harper said he felt terrible after pinch-hitting Wednesday night, but apparently he is healthy enough to play. He's starting in left field and batting third, per usual.
May 16 2013After his pinch-hit appearance Wednesday, Harper said that he felt "terrible," yet still could play Thursday night at San Diego, the Washington Post reports.Harper is still sore all over, with emphasis on his left side and abdomen, though his knee and shoulder are feeling better. There was no mention of nausea after Wednesday's game, and though the absence of mention doesn't mean absence of presence, it seems he might be out of the woods as far as lingering concussion symptoms are concerned.
May 15 2013Harper (chin) was able to pinch-hit Wednesday night against the Dodgers, grounding out to first base in the process.The Nats move on to San Diego to play a four-game series there beginning Thursday, so we'll await word if this is enough to get him into the starting lineup.
May 15 2013Harper (head) reported soreness in his rib cage Wednesday that he did not report Tuesday, according to manager Davey Johnson, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.His status remains day-to-day, but it's a bit discouraging that some new pain crept up Wednesday. The coming days should be quite telling in regards to the 20-year-old's availablility for this weekend's series against the Padres.
May 15 2013Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Harper (head) is potentially available to pinch-hit Wednesday against the Dodgers.Johnson said Harper's sore with some newly-reported soreness in his rib cage area, but he passed all his concussion tests and it seems there's a chance the 20-year-old is used off the bench Wednesday. The comments suggest Harper will not be out of action for long, but continue to consider him day-to-day until he takes the field again.
May 15 2013Harper (head) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.No huge surprise here, as GM Mike Rizzo suggested Wednesday that Harper would likely not return to the lineup for a few days. Fortunately, Harper passed all of his concussion tests following Monday's collision with the outfield wall, so it seems he should be back at some point during the team's series in San Diego.
May 15 2013GM Mike Rizzo confirmed Harper (head) is not suffering from a concussion and should be ready to play in a few days, 106.7 The Fan reports.Although Harper copped to feeling a bit nauseous after colliding with a wall Monday hight and requiring 11 stitches, he passed his initial concussion tests and won't require any further examinations going forward. Expect him to reappear in the lineup at some point this weekedn.
May 14 2013Harper said he was feeling nauseated Tuesday, one day after his collision with the right field wall in Los Angeles, the Nats' official site reports. "I got the stitches and I feel kind of crappy today," Harper said. "I don't think I should go out there right now with how I'm feeling today. I'm feeling a little nauseous. That's the only thing that is holding me out of the lineup. The soreness and stuff is part of the game. You could play through that. If I wasn't feeling so nauseous, I would be in the lineup."Nausea is frequently a concussion symptom. The Nats have already said that Harper tested negative for concussion symptoms and we have no reason to believe that they wouldn't be telling the truth on this, but sometimes those symptoms arise after the fact. Keep an eye out for that aspect of the story.
May 14 2013Harper (head, shoulder, knee) is not in the starting lineup Tuesday night.Tyler Moore is starting in right field Tuesday, while Harper is day-to-day with a variety of ailment suffered following a collision with the outfield wall in Monday's game.
May 14 2013Harper had X-rays performed following Monday's game, which were returned negative, the Washington Post reports. His current ailments include a bruised left shoulder and left knee.The scene was somewhat scary Monday following Harper's headfirst run into the right field wall and subsequent daze as a result of the collision. He required 11 stitches under his chin, but luckily, he has appeared to avoid any concussion symptoms. Consider him day-to-day, with Roger Bernadina manning the outfield in his stead.
May 13 2013The "prevailing sentiment" is that Harper will probably miss a game or two, pending the result of his precautionary X-rays due on Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.In addition to the 11 stitches that Harper needed underneath his chin, and the jammed shoulder that's requiring the X-ray, he also has a bruised neck and bruised knee.
May 13 2013The "prevailing sentiment" is that Harper will probably miss a game or two, pending the result of his precautionary x-rays due on Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.In addition to the 11 stitches that Harper needed underneath his chin, and the jammed shoulder that's requiring the x-ray, he also has a bruised neck and bruised knee.
May 13 2013Harper required 11 stitches, but apparently does not have a concussion after crashing into the wall Monday night, Washington Times' Beat Writer Amanda Comak reports. He will have x-rays Tuesday, according to the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore.This was reportedly according to his agent, Scott Boras, and not anyone from the Nationals' medical staff, so we wouldn't jump to conclusions yet. Comak didn't mention other possible injuries in her tweet, but that doesn't mean there weren't any.
May 13 2013Harper left Monday's game after running face-first into the outfield wall at nearly full speed. He remained on the ground for a minute or so, then walked off under his own power, but in an apparent daze and with a cut on his neck. More word on his status when we get it. The collision looked terrible, but that he was able to walk is a good sign. We wouldn't be surprised if he had a concussion, however.
May 13 2013Harper left Monday's game after running face-first into the outfield wall at nearly full speed. He remained on the ground for a minute or so, then walked off under his own power, but in an apparent daze.More word on his status when we get it. The collision looked terrible, but that he was able to walk is a good sign. We wouldn't be surprised if he had a concussion, however.
May 12 2013Harper (toe) is back in the lineup Sunday against the Cubs.After receiving the first two games of the series off on account of an ingrown toenail, Harper felt comfortable enough moving around Sunday morning to give it a go. He'll slot back into his usual spot in the three-hole.
May 11 2013Harper is hoping to play in Sunday's series finale with the Cubs, the Washington Post reports.Harper has missed the first two games of the series with the Cubs, do to an ingrown toenail procedure. He tested the left toe in warmups on Saturday, but is still dealing with tenderness and discomfort. Manager Davey Johnson is unsure whether Harper will play Sunday but doesn't expect him to miss any length of time. With Jayson Werth also banged up, Roger Bernadina and Tyler Moore will cover the outfield duties until the Nationals are back to full strength.
May 11 2013Harper (toe) is not in the lineup Saturday, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.Harper will miss a second game after undergoing minor toe surgery, but he may have a shot at returning Sunday.
May 11 2013Harper (toe) is not sure if he will be able to play Saturday, the Washington Post's James Wagner reports.Harper had minor surgery on his toe Friday, and though he was originally expected to miss just one game, it now sounds like he is highly questionable for Saturday's contest.
May 10 2013Harper is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.Harper has struggled a bit of late, going just 4-for-33 (.121) over his last 10 games, so he will get the night off Friday. Tyler Moore will get the start in left field in Harper's place.
May 10 2013Harper will not be available Friday after having minor surgery on his toe, CSN's Mark Zuckerman reports.Harper underwent a procedure to remove an ingrown toenail, so he will not play in Friday's game. However, manager Davey Johnson does not think Harper will miss more than the lone game, so there is a good chance he is back in the lineup Saturday.
May 8 2013Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in Washington's 3-1 win over Detroit on Wednesday.Harper continues to thrive at the plate, as Wednesday's performance brought his average up to .313. His tenth home run tied him with John Buck for second in the NL. As long as he stays hot and keeps his cool, Harper should continue putting up huge numbers in a dangerous Nationals lineup.
May 5 2013Harper was ejected in the first inning of Sunday's victory at Pittsburgh for presumably arguing balls and strikes, MLB.com reports.Harper swung and missed at a 2-2 pitch, attempting to hold up. The home plate umpire asked for help from the third base ump, who ruled that he swung. His reaction, staring at the ump and dropping his bat, likely didn't endear himself to sympathy, as he was promptly ejected from the game. Harper was replaced by Roger Bernardina in left field but shouldn't worry about missing any time, as this may be another case of an overzealous umpire.
May 2 2013Harper (ribs) checked out fine during batting practice and will be cleared to play Thursday against the Braves, the Washington Times reports.Harper was able to hit the ball over the fence during batting practice, a sign the rib injury isn't inhibiting him. He'll be back in the lineup without having to miss any games.
May 2 2013Harper (ribs) is listed in the Nationals' preliminary lineup Thursday against the Braves, CSN Washington reports.The Nationals will likely monitor Harper during pregame warmups and before determining for certain whether he'll remain. Stay tuned on his status prior to game time in the event that he ends up being scratched from the lineup.
May 2 2013X-rays taken on Harper's midsection came back negative, Adam Kilgore of the WashingtonHarper suffered a lat/rib injury in Wednesday's game, but the results of Thursday's exam confirm that the injury is only minor. Harper is planning to play Thursday against the Braves, but be sure to check the Nationals' lineup to see if he is in or out.
May 1 2013Harper left Wednesday's game in the sixth inning after apparently tweaking something during a swing, the CSN Washington reports.There's no word yet if his removal from the game was related to the injury he suffered to the side of his body after crashing into a fence Tuesday night. Expect the Nationals to give an update on his injury in short order.
May 1 2013Harper's injury has been diagnosed as a bruised lat, the Washington Times reports. He'll be re-evaluated by the team's medical staff Thursday.Manager Davey Johnson said the bruise stemmed from crashing into the wall Tuesday night. Harper managed to join the starting lineup Wednesday but exited after an at-bat in the sixth inning after apparently aggravating the injury while swinging. Consider him day-to-day, but it seems very likely he'll be scratched as a precaution Thursday against the Braves at the very least.
Apr 27 2013Harper went 2-for-3 and hit his ninth home run of the season in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Reds.Harper continues to mash, and now sports a ridiculous .373/.453/.783 batting line. Even excluding any potential batted ball luck, the numbers are similarly outstanding- Nine home runs, 12 walks, and just 13 strikeouts- leaving little doubt that Harper is the real deal.
Apr 26 2013Harper went 2-for-3 with his eighth home run of the season Thursday.The kid's had a multi-hit game in 11 of 21 contests this season, and there's no sign of a slowdown on the horizon. Harper's owners might have been hoping for more than one steal so far, but when you're slugging .740 there aren't that many bases left for you to steal.
Apr 24 2013Harper had two of the Nationals' five hits off Adam Wainwright in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Cards.The kid seems to be the only player immune to the struggles the Nats are going through to open the season. Harper's now slashing .366/.438/.718 with seven home runs, 14 RBI and 13 runs through 19 games.
Apr 20 2013Harper went 3-for-3 with two homers and three RBI in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Mets.The kid has not cooled off after his torrid start to the year, and his slash line now sits at .371/.426/.758 through 16 games. The flu bug kept Harper from a game earlier in the week, but he has not shown any ill effects since returning to the lineup Wednesday.
Apr 18 2013Despite the fact that he was still battling the flu and threw up in the second inning Wednesday, Harper went 4-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.He'd gone 0-for-10 in his previous three games and started to look mortal again, but apparently getting sick was just what the doctor ordered... ? Harper now sports a .364/.417/.673 line through 14 games with five home runs, 11 RBI and 10 runs.
Apr 17 2013Harper (illness) is back in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.Harper sat out Tuesday's game, but it appears his ailment will only cost him the lone contest. As he has done all season, Harper will man left field and bat third Wednesday night.
Apr 16 2013Harper is out of the starting lineup Tuesday with flu-like symptoms, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com reports.With both Harper and Denard Span under the weather, Roger Bernadina and Tyler Moore are getting starts for the Nationals on Tuesday. Consider Harper day-to-day until he's recovered.
Apr 16 2013Harper is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Marlins.With Harper getting a day of rest, Tyler Moore will join the lineup and play left field.
Apr 12 2013Harper hit his fifth home run of the season Friday, adding a walk and his first stolen base of the year in a 6-4 extra-innings loss to Atlanta.The young man is hitting an even .400 with the five long balls and 10 RBI. It's hard not to like just about everything about him as he matures into one the game's best players.
Apr 11 2013Harper crushed a 420-foot solo shot, his fourth home run of the season, as part of a 2-for-4 performance in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.The 20-year-old is hitting a ridiculous .394/.394/.788 with six multi-hit games in eight starts, and seems intent on meeting or even surpassing the hype that greeted him heading into the season.
Apr 6 2013Harper went 2-for-5 and slugged his third home run of the season in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Reds.Harper is off to a fantastic start and he has put together four multi-hit efforts in five games. He has yet to steal a base, but otherwise is contributing across the board.
Apr 1 2013Harper started the season with a bang, hitting solo home runs in both of his first two at bats of the season.Harper also added a little bit of defense with an outfield assist. The 20-year old outfielder is hitting third this season sandwiched between former All-Stars Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman. His RBI and run totals could vastly improve this year.
Mar 28 2013Harper (thumb) returned to the lineup Thursday, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.In his first at-bat Thursday, Harper roped a single to right field, marking the 11th consecutive plate appearance in which Harper has reached base. He does not appear in any danger of missing Opening Day.
Mar 27 2013Harper (thumb), who intends to return to the field Friday, is not worried about his Opening Day status, the Washington Post reports.Harper aggravated his swollen thumb Tuesday in his second at-bat, when he was jammed yet again. If the injury improves enough, he could play Thursday, but since Davey Johnson would like just one appearance from Harper before declaring him ready for the first game of the season, we're not particularly concerned about his current situation.
Mar 26 2013Harper is still experiencing swelling in his thumb and may receive some time off depending on the recommendation of team doctors, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.It's expected that Harper would only need a few days to let the injury fully heal, although it's unclear how long the ailment has bothered him as it was first reported when he was scratched from the lineup Saturday with swelling after being jammed by a pitch Friday.
Mar 25 2013Harper (thumb) went 3-for-3 with a double and two stolen bases Sunday.It seems safe to say that his thumb is fine. Harper's now hitting .431/.459/.707 this spring with three home runs and four steals in 58 at-bats.
Mar 24 2013Harper (thumb) plans to play Sunday, the Washington Post reports.Harper said the thumb is a little sore, but not enough of a problem to prevent him from getting in a few more reps at the plate before Opening Day. He's batted a stellar .400/.431/.673 this spring and should be primed to take on a greater role as a run-producer batting out of the third spot in the lineup in 2013.
Mar 23 2013Harper was scratched from Saturday's spring game due to a swollen left thumb, CSN Washington reports.Harper was jammed by a pitch Friday, thus precipitating the move. Manager Davey Johnson is not concerned by the injury, however, and stated that Harper will return to the field Sunday. In the meantime, consider Harper day-to-day.
Mar 21 2013After a 2-for-3 performance against Marlins left-hander Wade LeBlanc on Wednesday, Harper is now hitting .400 (20-for-50) this spring with a .700 SLG.You should never make too big a deal out of spring numbers, but given Harper's youth, pedigree and upside this just gives more ammunition to the crowd excepting the kid to have a huge breakout season.
Mar 10 2013Harper's big spring continued Saturday as he went 2-for-3 with his second home run.He's got a .462/.481/.846 slash line in 26 Grapefruit League at-bats, and looks very comfortable so far hitting third in the Nationals lineup. The 20-year-old seems poised for a big year.
Mar 2 2013Harper hit his first spring home run Friday, an opposite field pop off Julio Teheran, and is off to a scorching 7-for-13 start to his Grapefruit League campaign.There's no sign yet that Harper is headed for any kind of sophomore slump. He won't come cheap on draft day, but given his ceiling, he might end up being a bargain, even if you pay top dollar.
Feb 20 2013Harper has reported to camp having added nearly 20 pounds of muscle to his frame, the Washington Post reports. "I take a lot of pride in my workouts," Harper said, sitting in the clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium this week. "I work as hard as I can to get ready for the season."It's easy to forget that Harper is still a growing boy, given his high level of performance last season. Some of that weight will come off over the course of the year due to his full-throttle playing style, but an improved fitness level can only help Harper meet or even exceed the expectations that surround him.
Dec 1 2012The Nationals' trade for Denard Span will allow Harper to play a corner outfield spot in 2013.The team hasn't decided yet whether Harper or Jayson Werth will play right field, but look for that to get sorted out in spring training. More importantly, the addition of Span's on-base skills will allow them to move Harper down into the heart of the batting order, so look for more RBI from the phenom next season.
Nov 12 2012Harper was named the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year on Monday, Nationals' official PR Twitter page reports.As a 19-year-old, Harper hit .270/.340/.477 with 22 homers and 18 stolen bases in 139 games last season. While some could argue he has a bit of growing up to do, Harper excelled as a rookie and showed why he had so much hype surrounding him prior to his debut.
Oct 6 2012Harper has one of the most impressive seasons by a teenager in major league history, finishing with a .270/.340/.477 line, 22 home runs, 18 stolen bases, 59 RBI and 98 runs scored.While there were plenty of mistakes and mental errors along the way Harper's 2012 highlights more than outweighed his gaffes, and he'll get an even bigger stage in the postseason in which to add to his growing legend. The kid is a keeper in every sense of the word.
Oct 3 2012Harper is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Phillies, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.With the NL East already locked up for the Nationals, Harper will get the day off in favor of Jayson Werth, who will start in center field and lead off.
Oct 1 2012Harper's hot September continued on Sunday as he went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run.He's showing the veterans on the Nationals how you kick to the finish, hitting a ridiculous .429 (15-for-35) over his last nine games with three home runs, four steals, 10 runs scored and eight RBI. With 22 homers on the year and three games left on the schedule he'll probably fall just short of Tony Conigliaro's teenage record of 24, but you can't rule out Harper doing something dramatic to close out what has been a historic season.
Sep 29 2012Harper went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored against the Cardinals on Friday.Harper has now hit safely in his last five straight games and has multi-hit performances in five of his last seven including four straight here. After falling off the grid for most of July and August, the 19-year old phenom is batting .316 with six home runs and 13 RBI here in September and is now just three stolen bases shy of his first 20-20 season. It will be virtually impossible to pry him away from an owner in a keeper league and he is likely to cost you a fairly high draft pick or serious auction dollars to obtain his services next year.
Sep 28 2012Harper homered for the second straight game Thursday, going 2-for-4 with his 21st blast of the season.The wunderkind is now hitting .305/.377/.611 in 95 September at-bats with six home runs, four steals, 13 RBI and 23 runs scored on the month.
Sep 26 2012Harper went 2-for-5 with a double, home run, and three RBI in a 8-4 Nationals' win over the Phillies on Wednesday.Harper picked up home run number 20 and stolen base number 17 on the year. With a bit of fortune, Harper could end up with a 20-20 season just shy of 20 years old.
Sep 22 2012Harper went 2-for-4 with two runs, one RBI, and a stolen base during Saturday's 10-4 win over the Brewers.The stolen base was actually a result of Harper getting picked off and then beating the throw from second base to third. It was his first stolen base since July 23 and only his 14th of the season. Harper has the speed to steal far more bases, but he's not a polished baserunner like fellow phenom Mike Trout.
Sep 20 2012Harper went 1-for-4 with a triple in Game 1 of Wednesday's double-header, setting a record for teenagers in the major leagues with his 49th extra-base hit of the season.His numbers on the season (.262/.333/.459 with 19 home runs) don't jump off the page, but considering his age they are nothing short of outstanding. Given the progress Mike Trout made between his age 19 and age 20 seasons, the sky's the limit on what Harper could accomplish next year.
Sep 14 2012Harper was 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a losing cause against the Braves on Friday night.He scuffled a bit in August, but appears to be getting back in the groove now, raising his average to .265 on the year while collecting his 19th home run and 50th RBI in this one. Unfortunately, his sixth inning big fly was the only run his mates could muster against the Braves' Kris Medlen.
Sep 11 2012Harper went 4-for-5 Tuesday against the Mets, with a double and an RBI.The four hits are a career high for Harper, and even more impressively, he got three of his hits off NL Cy Young candidate R.A. Dickey. Harper boasts an impressive .314/.429/.686 slash line in the month of September, and is making a late run at the NL Rookie of the Year award.
Sep 8 2012Harper went 1-for-4 with a home run in Saturday's win over the Marlins.Harper has been on quite a home run binge of late, slugging six homers over his last 11 games. For all the power that Harper displays, the impact has been a bit limited by Harper's spot at second in the batting order. He has a pedestrian 48 RBI despite starting for the majority of the season.
Sep 5 2012Harper hit a pair of solo homers and walked twice in Wednesday's win over the Cubs.After suffering through a horribly cold stretch since the All-Star break, Harper has come alive over his last eight games, going 12-for-30 (.400) with five homers in that span. Those few who gave up on him during his slump may be regretting it now.
Sep 4 2012Harper is not in the starting lineup Tuesday, the Nats' PR department reports.With left-hander Chris Rusin on the mound for the Cubs, Harper will likely be limited to a pinch-hit or late-game appearance Tuesday.
Sep 2 2012Harper had his fourth straight two-hit game Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.Harper's now hitting .351 (13-for-37) over his last nine games with three home runs and eight RBI. It looks like the teenager might have something left in the tank for the stretch run.
Aug 30 2012Harper went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI in Thursday's win over St. Louis.Harper hasn't hit well since the All-Star break, although he's homered three times in the last two games.
Aug 29 2012Harper hit a pair of homers Wednesday against Miami, both off starter Jacob Turner. He drove in three.It's been a struggle for Harper, who entered play Wednesday hitting just .195 since the All-Star break, but perhaps this performance will help the 19-year-old get back on track.
Aug 18 2012Harper won't be in the starting lineup Saturday with the Nationals facing Jon Niese, the Washington Post reports.This is more to give Tyler Moore some at-bats than it is to have Harper duck a lefty, especially after he homered against Johan Santana on Friday. Still, given the depth the Nats have on their roster right now, Harper will likely continue to get more days off down the stretch as manager Davey Johnson tries to keep everyone sharp for the postseason.
Aug 17 2012Harper was 2-for-3, adding a walk, while swatting his 11th home run of the year Friday night.He has really scuffled at the plate lately and his average is down to .249, but he has gotten a couple of days off recently, and maybe that rest with this outburst will get him back on track. At age 19, his production has been exemplary, and an occasional bump in the road is to be expected.
Aug 10 2012Harper is back in the lineup Friday, CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman reports.Harper received a day off Thursday after falling into a prolonged slump following the All-Star break. He'll return to the two-hole, facing off against the Diamondbacks' Trevor Cahill.
Aug 9 2012As expected, Harper is not in the lineup Thursday, the Nationals' Public Relations Department reports.Harper has slumped to a .176/.276/.265 since the All-Star break, prompting manager Davey Johnson to give Harper the day off. Expect the supremely talented Harper to eventually figure things out, though it might be optimistic to expect him to replicate his early season performance as more pitchers have gained familiarity with his tendencies.
Aug 5 2012Harper hit his second home run since the All-Star break in Saturday's win over the Marlins.The rookie has slowed down mightily at the plate, as pitchers have assembled a better book on him and an everyday workload has worn him down. With Jayson Werth back and capable of playing center field as well Harper may get some more rest down the stretch, which could help his numbers, but it can't be a surprise when a 19-year-old struggles for an extended period in the majors.
Aug 3 2012Harper is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins, the Nationals' official PR Twitter page reports.Harper, who is amidst a 2-for-19 slump, will get what looks like a rest. Mark DeRosa will start in center field and bat seventh against lefty Brad Hand, but Harper will probably start against right-hander Josh Johnson in Game 2.
Jul 29 2012Harper (stomach flu) is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.Harper started feeling sick after Thursday's game, and he ended up being scratched from Saturday's lineup. The 19-year-old is batting .242 with one homer and just seven RBI so far in July (91 at-bats), but he was able to keep his food down Saturday night and it looks safe to insert him back into fantasy lineups.
Jul 28 2012Harper (stomach virus) was scratched from Saturday's matchup with the Brewers, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.Harper is simply feeling under the weather and manger Davey Johnson wasn't inclined on having him exert himself for nine innings and potentially exacerbating the problem. He'll be available for pinch-hitting duties or as a defensive replacement, if needed.
Jul 22 2012Harper (ankle) is in the starting lineup Sunday against the Braves, Nationals' official PR Twitter page reports.Harper exited the first game of Saturday's double-header in the third inning after fouling a ball of his ankle, but he was able to pinch-hit in the second game. The 19-year-old will be back in right field and bat second against right-hander Jair Jurrjens.
Jul 21 2012Harper (ankle) is not in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's double-header against Atlanta, the Washington Times' Amanda Comak reports.Harper left Saturday afternoon's game after fouling a bunt off of his ankle. X-rays were negative and it is being described as a "sore ankle", so he should be back in the lineup within the next few days.
Jul 21 2012Harper's injury is just a sore ankle and he was removed from Saturday's game as "a precautionary measure", the Nationals' Official Twitter reports.This is the best case scenario, and Harper's fantasy owners have to be relieved. The young slugger hasn't exactly been tearing it up lately, so perhaps a day or two of rest will be a good thing. He should be able to return soon, but may have to miss the rest of this weekend's series against Atlanta.
Jul 21 2012Harper (ankle) will likely play Sunday against the Braves, Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington reports.Harper did not start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, but he appeared as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth and was able to finish the game in right field. Official word should come prior to Sunday's game, but it would be a surprise to not see him in the lineup.
Jul 21 2012Harper left Saturday's game in the third inning after fouling a pitch off of his foot/ankle in the first inning while attempting to bunt.Harper tried to play through the pain, but apparently wasn't able to. It's unclear at this point how serious the injury is, but chances are he will be out of the lineup for the second game of Saturday's double-header at the very least. With the benefit of hindsight the Nationals may regret their decision to designate Rick Ankiel for assignment.
Jul 20 2012Harper went 0-for-5 with a strikeout Thursday.The kid is just 6-for-30 (.200) since the All-Star break and his last home run came on June 28th. Harper's already proven he can fight through slumps in his eye-blink brief big league career, but now we'll get to see how he can handle the grind of a long season.
Jul 8 2012Harper went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases in the Nationals' 4-3 loss to the Rockies on Sunday.With eight homers and 10 steals on the season, Harper has a legitimate chance of becoming a 20-20 player in his rookie season. The scary thing is that a 20-20 season might not even approach the ceiling for the immensely talented Harper.
Jul 8 2012Harper has been named to the NL All-Star squad to replace Giancarlo Stanton.Harper's storybook major league debut continues. He'll be the youngest position player in All-Star Game history, and only the third teenager after Bob Feller and Dwight Gooden.
Jul 6 2012Harper went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Thursday's 6-5 win against the Giants.Harper continues to hit in his first big league season, raising his triple slash to .283/.355/.481. He has strung together three consecutive multi-hit games.
Jul 4 2012Harper went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Giants.The multi-hit effort was Harper's fourth in the last seven games, as he continues to chug along as at solid clip while working out of the No. 2 spot in the Washington lineup.
Jun 25 2012Harper went 2-for-4 Sunday with a double and a stolen base.He hasn't been making many headlines recently, with his last home run coming back on June 12th, but Harper has remained a steady presence at the top of the Nationals' order even without the highlight reel moments. The 19-year-old's slash line on the season is still an eye-popping .286/.367/.497.
Jun 18 2012Harper followed up his awful five strikeout game on Saturday by going 2-for-4 Sunday with a double.He showed remarkable maturity in his post-game comments, the Washington Post reports. "Baseball is a humbling game," Harper said. "It's the game that I love to play. And there's nothing you can do about it. You have to forget it and put it behind you. It's going to happen again. Hopefully, not anytime soon. But it's going to happen again in my career, and I've just got to take the good with the bad." Harper's now slashing .294/.370/.524 on the season.
Jun 16 2012Harper went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees.Harper's been on fire lately, but cooled off in a big way Saturday. He doesn't normally strike out all that often, so there's really no reason for concern here. It was the worst day of his young career, but Harper should be fine going forward.
Jun 12 2012Harper was 3-for-4 with his seventh home run, a solo shot in the third inning, Tuesday night.The home run was crushed to straightaway center field and bounced off the window of a restaurant. That's five multiple-hit games in his last nine starts, and he now has his average up to .307 to go with seven long ones on the year. Harper still makes the occasional 19-year-old mistake, but his talent level is off the charts. There is little question he is in the major leagues to stay, and could be well on his way to stardom.
Jun 11 2012Harper (back) pinch-hit on Sunday, drawing a walk and scoring the winning run in the ninth inning on Roger Bernadina's double.Even when he doesn't start, Harper finds a way to make an impact. The back issue appears to be very minor, and he should return to the starting lineup on Monday in Toronto.
Jun 11 2012Harper went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one RBI, one walk and one stolen base Monday against the Blue Jays.Harper has recorded at least two hits in four of his last eight games and has raised his average to .295 for the season. He can fill multiple stat columns like he did Monday on any given night, which is one of the main reasons he carries significant fantasy value.
Jun 11 2012Harper (back) is in Monday's lineup against the Blue Jays, according to the Nationals' PR Department.Harper was able to pinch-hit on Sunday and his quick return to the lineup affirms that his back issue was indeed a minor one.
Jun 10 2012Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Sunday that Harper is dealing with tightness in his right lower back, but expects him to play against the Blue Jays on Monday, Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com reports.Harper's issue is "totally muscular," according to Johnson. The 19-year-old phenom is out of the starting lineup Sunday for the first time since his promotion to the show, but it doesn't look like this is a major issue.
Jun 10 2012Harper is not in Sunday's lineup against the Red Sox, according to the Nationals' PR Department.With Harper taking a seat against Boston lefty Jon Lester on Sunday, the Nationals will start an outfield comprised of Xavier Nady, Tyler Moore and Roger Bernadina.
Jun 8 2012Harper (back) is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox, according to the Nationals' PR Dept.Harper hurt his back on a diving attempt in Thursday's game, but not enough to prevent him from taking the field Friday night. Harper will man center field and bat second against Boston starter Felix Doubront.
Jun 8 2012Harper was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, three RBI, and his sixth home run of the season Friday night.Harper strained his back Thursday night, but it was apparently not a distraction as he fell a triple short of the cycle on Friday. Harper's huge night at the plate supported fellow phenom Stephen Strasburg who struck out 13 on his way to his seventh win on the season. That one-two combination is something Nationals opponents may need to get used to over the next few years.
Jun 7 2012Harper received treatment for a sore back after diving for and missing a David Wright triple Thursday, but said there's "no chance" he misses Friday's game in Boston, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.Harper is known for his confidence, and there's a chance he's a bit overconfident in his ability to heal, so this will be a situation to watch for those with daily lineup changes.
Jun 6 2012Harper went 2-for-7 Tuesday with two RBI, including his first career walk-off hit.With the bases loaded and two outs in the 12th inning, Harper dropped a single into left field to bring home the game-winning run. Never let it be said the kid lacks a flair for the dramatic.
Jun 4 2012Harper was named the NL Rookie of the Month for May.The wunderkind posted an impressive .271/.355/.505 line on the month with four home runs, 10 RBI and 21 runs scored in 107 at-bats, as well as a 13:20 BB:K ratio.
Jun 4 2012Harper started his third straight game in center field against the Braves on Sunday.Teammate Michael Morse, fresh off the DL, is likely to return to his post in right field, pushing Harper to center. Sunday makes 11 games in center - to go along with seven starts in left field - for the young phenom.
Jun 3 2012Harper went 1-for-2 Saturday with two walks.The Nationals only reached base nine times in total off Brandon Beachy and the Braves bullpen, so that was a more impressive line than it might seem at first glance. Harper continues to produce far above what anyone has a right to expect from a 19-year-old in the majors, and sports a .278/.368/.504 line through his first 31 games.
Jun 3 2012Harper hit his fifth home run of the season as part of a 2-for-3 day Sunday against the Braves.He and Steve Lombardozzi hit back-to-back homers to lead off the game, becoming the first pair of rookies to do so in the modern era. Harper is now hitting .288/.380/.542. If he maintains a .900 OPS for the rest of the season, he'll become only the second player in MLB history to do so at age 19, with Mel Ott (1928) being the other.
May 31 2012Harper was limping in the clubhouse after fouling a ball off his foot on Wednesday, but shouldn't miss any action, the Washington Post reports.Harper could see a day off or two to heal up after Mike Morse comes off the DL, which could be as soon as this weekend, but for now it looks like the 19-year-old will play through this.
May 28 2012Harper hit his second home run in as many days, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk as Washington swept Atlanta on Sunday.Harper is currently working on a seven-game hitting streak, which includes a .444 average (12-for-27), two moonshots, nine runs scored, six RBI, and a stolen base for the Nationals. His plate discipline has also been elite as he sports a 3:5 K/BB ratio during the run.
May 27 2012Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday, an opposite-field laser off Johnny Venters.Venters is usually murder on lefties (career OPS vs. LHB of .552), which makes the homer all-the-more impressive. Harper's working on a six-game hitting streak, with multi-hit efforts in four of those six games, to boost his line on the season up to .278/.366/.495. You have to keep reminding yourself that the kid is still only 19 years old.
May 22 2012Harper went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI against Roy Halladay and Philadelphia on Tuesday.The highlight was a two-run triple off Halladay in the third inning. Harper appears to be shaking off the slump he went through and has his line back up to a very respectable .264/.343/.471.
May 20 2012Harper, penciled in again as the No. 2 hitter in the Nationals order, went 0-for-5 Saturday with two strikeouts.His batting average is back down to .230 and the K's are starting to pile up, as he's now whiffed 16 times in 20 games. If he continues to struggle there's still a possibility the Nats send Harper back down to the minors when Mike Morse comes off the DL in a couple of weeks.
May 20 2012Harper went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI and a triple Sunday against the Orioles.Harper continues to be dynamic with his speed even when he's not stealing bases. The batting average isn't where owners would prefer (.244), but he's been productive overall, particualrly in terms of power -- his .205 ISO is a fantastic mark for any hitter, much less a 19-year-old in his first MLB stint.
May 16 2012Harper will bat second and play center field against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the Nationals' Official Twitter reports.Harper has been batting fifth of late, but the change made sense since usual No. 2 hitter Roger Bernadina is not in the lineup. Harper will likely return to the fifth spot soon, although it would not be surprising if the Nationals move him around often.
May 15 2012Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Tuesday's loss to San Diego.He went deep for the second straight day, depositing an Anthony Bass offering into the center field bleachers for his second MLB long ball. Harper appears to be locked in as the Nats' No. 5 hitter with Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche both healthy again.
May 14 2012Harper was 1-for-4 with a solo home run as the Nationals defeated the Padres 8-5 Monday night.It was his first career home run, and likely the first of many for the 19-year-old. He's hitting just .232 on the season, but has seven extra-base hits (the home run and six doubles) in just 56 at bats at the major league level.
May 12 2012Harper (eye) is in the lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Reds, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.There was some question about whether or not Harper would play after he suffered a cut above his left eye Friday night, but he'll be in his usual spot in the heart of the Nationals' order. Deploy him as you normally would.
May 12 2012Harper (left eye) needed 10 stitches Friday after slamming his bat against a wall and having the bat bounce back, hitting him in the head, the Washington Times' Amanda Comak reports.Harper was very frustrated during Friday's game and took it out on the wall. He has a nice welt above his left eye, but there are no head injuries. Nationals' manager Davey Johnson implied that he might have to miss a few games, but Harper does not plan on missing any time.
May 11 2012Harper went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Friday's win over the Reds, and late in the game suffered a cut above his left eye after smacking a bat off the wall, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.Harper later said he was fine and wants to play Saturday. He has just one hit in his last 13 at-bats.
May 9 2012Harper went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.Harper is finding ways to make a contribution on a nightly basis and has gotten on base at least once in nine of the first 10 games of his big league career. There have been fewer growing pains than expected so far as the 19-year old adjusts to big league pitching, and Harper appears to be staying in Washington for good.
May 9 2012Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says he won't look outside the organization for an outfielder to replace Jayson Werth, the Washington Post reports.Harper seems to be in the majors to stay, as barring a trade the Nats don't really have any other candidates to see regular at-bats in right field. Harper for his part continues to look like anything but a raw 19-year-old, hitting .300/.405/.500 through his first nine games with more walks than strikeouts.
May 8 2012In addition to a position switch from left field to right field, Harper will also move up in the batting order and bat second for the first time in his career Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, the Nationals' official Twitter account reports.With Ryan Zimmerman returning from the 15-day DL and Jayson Werth landing on it, Harper will play right field and bat second for the Nats on Tuesday night.
May 7 2012Harper will move from left field to right field due to Jayson Werth's wrist injury, the Washington Post reports.Werth is expected to miss at least six weeks, but could miss several months, so this is a long-term switch to Harper's most comfortable position.
May 4 2012Harper was 0-for-3 Friday night, but walked three times and continues to show he belongs at the major league level despite his young age.Some timely hits, solid plate discipline and exceptional defense will all make it difficult for the Nationals to send him back down once they get healthy. If his strong play continues, there is a very real possibility that he is in the show to stay.
May 3 2012Harper hit a run-scoring double in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Arizona.Harper's two-bagger proved to be the game-winning hit, breaking a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning. Harper, who hit third in the lineup Thursday, hasn't homered yet, but has four doubles in 16 at-bats.
May 3 2012Harper is batting third in Thursday's lineup, the Nationals' official site reports.Harper batted seventh in his first four games in the majors, and his 3-for-4 performance Wednesday prompted the Nationals to give him a look at third in the lineup. Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder) should reclaim the three hole when he returns to the lineup, but the fact that the Nationals are showing this kind of faith in Harper could speak to their short-term plans for him to be a consistent and large part of their lineup.
May 3 2012Harper went 3-for-4 Wednesday with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.The kid hasn't seemed overmatched at all so far, hitting .385 through his first 13 at-bats with three doubles and only two strikeouts. Ryan Zimmerman is due to return in the next few days, but Harper hasn't done anything yet to indicate he's the player who should be bumped aside when Zimmerman comes off the DL. It's not as though Zimmerman is going to displace him in left field.
Apr 29 2012Harper will play center field and bat seventh against the Dodgers on Sunday, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.After showing off his arm in his big-league debut Saturday, Harper will get a start in center against left-handed Chris Capuano. Jayson Werth will be in right field while Xavier Nady takes left.
Apr 28 2012Harper went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the Nationals' extra-inning loss to the Dodgers.His double off Chad Billingsley showed power not expected of a 19-year-old making his MLB debut. Harper may excite us for the next few weeks, but it is unclear if the Nationals plan to keep him at the major league level once Ryan Zimmerman is ready to return to duty.
Apr 28 2012Harper will make his major league debut Saturday night, according to the Nationals' PR Dept..As expected, Harper will play left field and bat seventh in Saturday's game against the Padres. Those who have had Harper on the bench up to now - or just snapped him up Friday - should feel free to insert him into their fantasy lineup.
Apr 27 2012Harper has been called up by the Nats, Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington reports. He will make his MLB debut Saturday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He'll take the roster spot of Ryan Zimmerman (15-day DL, shoulder) and likely slot into the Nats' everyday lineup in left field despite spending time playing center in the minors this season. Harper joins the Nats after hitting .250/.333/.357 in 72 at-bats through 20 games at Triple-A Syracuse.
Apr 23 2012Harper went 2-for-3 Sunday with his first Triple-A home run.He's still scuffling so far, hitting just .234/.300/.375, but he's had slow starts before when breaking in at a new level and it's probably only a matter of time before the offensive floodgates open. Don't expect to see him in the majors any time soon, however.
Apr 17 2012Harper went 1-for-4 with a strikeout on Tuesday and is now batting just .245 this season.This isn't the way the Nationals envisioned his season to begin, but better he works the kinks out in Triple-A than up in the majors. Plus it's a very small sample size. Harper has struggled with left-handed pitching this season, batting just .158 with six strikeouts in 20 plate appearances. He'll certainly need to turn things around if he wants to be called-up, but right now, the team is in no hurry to do so.
Apr 15 2012Harper is struggling against left-handed pitching so far at Triple-A, going 3-for-17 with five strikeouts, the Washington Post reports.Two of those three hits have come in his last five at-bats against lefties however, and there's never been any concern about his ability to make adjustments, so this isn't a huge worry just yet and isn't likely to affect the timetable for his promotion. Once he finally does get called up, don't be surprised if Harper finds himself in a platoon though.