Bryce Harper is good to go.
X-rays performed on Harper's right ankle were negative. He is in the Phillies' starting lineup Thursday night, batting third and playing right field against Atlanta right-hander Charlie Morton.
Harper is 7 for 14 with a triple, a homer, five walks and six RBIs lifetime against Morton.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Harper's status had been up in the air after he fouled a ball off his right ankle/foot area in the eighth inning of Wednesday night's 6-5 loss to the Yankees in New York.
Harper took a lengthy round of batting practice on the field before the game.
Odubel Herrera is also back in the lineup after 13 days on the injured list with ankle and wrist ailments.
Herrera was set to start in left field as manager Joe Girardi stuck with Travis Jankowski in center field. Jankowski was hitting .353 in his previous 12 starts this season.
MLB
The Phillies did not get back from New York until 3:15 a.m. Girardi held catcher J.T. Realmuto and left fielder Andrew McCutchen out of the starting lineup as he loaded up on lefty sticks against Morton.
It's a big four-game series for both teams. The New York Mets lead the NL East at 50-43. The Phillies are in second place, 3½ games back at 47-47. The Braves are in third place, 4½ games back at 46-48. Washington is six out at 45-50. The Nationals visit Philadelphia for four games beginning Monday. That series will take the Phillies to the trade deadline.
The Phillies are looking to add talent, particularly pitching, but their thinking could change if they play poorly in this eight-game stretch.
"I think it's important we play well these next few games," Girardi said. "I think it's very important. Teams are going to decide basically whether they are going to be buyers or sellers."
In other news, third baseman Alec Bohm was set to play a minor-league rehab game at Lehigh Valley on Thursday night. He was placed on the COVID IL 12 days ago but has been cleared to play. He could return to the big club in a day or two.
Here is the lineup for Thursday night's series opener against the Braves:
1. Jean Segura 2B
2. Travis Jankowski CF
3. Bryce Harper RF
4. Rhys Hoskins 1B
5. Didi Gregorius SS
6. Odubel Herrera LF
7. Ronald Torreyes 3B
8. Andrew Knapp C
9. Matt Moore LHP
Subscribe to Phillies Talk: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | Watch on YouTube