Bryce Harper returns to right field on Tuesday

Harper is at DH for the second time in the last three games as a return to the outfield has resulted in worsening knee soreness. It doesn’t sound like it’ll keep him out of the lineup, but it’s a situation that fantasy managers should monitor closely. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters the issue stems from Harper fouling a ball off his knee prior to last month’s All-Star break. These are the type of downstream impacts that come with a midseason positional change, especially for a veteran who is several years removed from patrolling the outfield on a regular basis.

Harper tied the game in the sixth inning, going back-to-back with Trea Turner for a solo homer off Max Scherzer. It was Harper’s third homer this month and 25th of the season to go with 72 runs scored, 71 RBI, and six steals while hitting .257/.365/.504 across 499 plate appearances.

Harper delivered an RBI single off of Jose Soriano in the third inning that tied the game at 2-2. He then delivered a run-scoring single during the Phillies’ uprising in the ninth that pulled them to within a run at 5-4. That would be as close as they would get though. The 33-year-old slugger is having a strong season at the dish, slashing .257/.366/.500 with 24 homers, 70 RBI and six stolen bases.

Harper drew a walk in the first inning and scored on an RBI double off the bat of Alec Bohm. He then doubled off of Miles Mikolas to start the third inning and scored on Brandon Marsh’s run-scoring double. The 33-year-old superstar is now hitting .255/.364/.500 with 24 long balls and 68 RBI on the season.

It’s the first time he’s played the outfield since Apr. 16, 2022. Harper is expected to be eased into right field, so expect him to continue to make some starts at first for now.

Harper crushed his 24th home run of the season 433 feet deep in the eighth inning to give the Phillies a three-run cushion. This may be Harper’s last game playing first base for a while since he’ll move back out to right field to accommodate Luis Arraez’s arrival in Philadelphia. We don’t expect that to change anything with Harper’s offensive success.

Arraez will play second base, with Bryson Stott moving to third and Alec Bohm to first. That will shift Bryce Harper, who brought his outfielder’s glove on the current road trip, back to the grass. This doesn’t change much for anybody’s fantasy value, but it will be nice for Harper to have multiple position eligibility in 2027 fantasy leagues.

Harper hit a ground-rule double in the fourth inning, a single in the sixth inning and walked and scored in the eighth inning. He has hits in his last six games and is 7-for-23 (.304( with four walks in that time. Harper is hitting .254 with an .850 OPS and 65 RBI.

Harper’s home run was his 22nd of the season. He hit a two-run shot off Tyler Phillips in the first inning. Harper and the Phillies probably felt good with a 2-0 lead and Zack Wheeler on the mound, but the feeling was short-lived as Wheeler only lasted three innings. Harper also walked and scored in the sixth inning. He’s hitting .252 with an .850 OPS and 63 RBI.

On a night where Cam Schlittler struck out 12 hitters, Harper fell victim to Schlittler twice, striking out on three straight pitches in the first inning and looking in a seven-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning. He would strike out a third time against David Bednar to kick off the ninth inning to cap a tough night for himself and his teammates. Harper is 0-for-7 with six strikeouts in his last two games.