Bryce Harper limped off the field with an apparent hamstring injury after making the final out for the Philadelphia Phillies in their 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
Hustling down the line as he tried to beat out a grounder to second base, Harper reached for his left hamstring after crossing first base and hobbled toward the dugout. He will undergo tests on the hamstring on Friday.
After the game, Harper spoke about the injury:
Said Harper on the hamstring injury, “I've never felt anything like this before.”
Philadelphia teammate Kyle Schwarber also got injured, leaving the game in the ninth inning after experiencing left groin tightness. Schwarber, normally a designated hitter, had started in left field — just his third game in the field all season long.
The Phillies built a 3-0 lead paced by an RBI double by Harper in the first inning. With the hit, Harper extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He was also chosen for his eighth All-Star Game on Thursday as the leading vote-getter among National League players in the first round of fan balloting.
Phillies have injury issues beyond Bryce Harper
It's been a rough season for Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. Walker has had his share of struggles on the mound this season, and now finds himself on the IL.
“The Phillies have placed RHP Taijuan Walker on the 15-day IL (retro to 6/22) with right index finger inflammation. To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, RHP Michael Mercado was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA). Mercado will wear No. 63.”
In his last five starts, Walker has given up 18 runs in 29 1/3 innings pitched. It's been rough for the right-hander, as he's looked the worst he's even been in the last few years. The Phillies were hoping for solid performance from him at worst. Now, he's actively been the reason why they're losing games.
That being said, there could be a physiological reason for his struggles this year. Injuries are often a common and valid explanation for a pitcher's sudden dip in performance. Perhaps the Phillies can use Walker's time off to figure out if previous injuries are troubling him or if he needs a tune-up of sorts.
Walker is really the only weak spot in the Phillies rotation. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola have been their usual great selves, posting an ERA+ of 148 and 114, respectively. The true star of the show is Ranger Suarez, who is having a breakout year. Suarez currently holds a insane 1.75 ERA, and signs point to this trend continuing on.
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