Bryce Harper's availability a question mark for series finale

Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters after today's 8-5 loss to the Reds that right fielder Bryce Harper was only available today in an "extreme emergency situation." Harper was originally on this afternoon's lineup card, but was scratched just over an hour before first pitch with back soreness.

"I tried to get in here in this morning and tried to get loose, but when I got on the field, it didn't feel very good," Harper said to reporters after the game.

The soreness was the result of a 93 mph from Reds reliever Tony Cingrani that nailed Harper squarely in the center of his back on the first pitch of his fourth at-bat on Friday night. Harper remained in the game and later singled off Reds closer Aroldis Chapman on a 102 mph heater in the ninth.

But after a night of sleep, the pain was too limiting for Harper to risk playing today.

"It's more of a bone bruise kinda feel," Harper told reporters. "But it's right on my 10 and 11 vertebrae, so when I swing and I turn, it doesn't feel very good. So caution today, definitely. I don't want to switch anything up. I don't want to tweak with anything or try to do something else I haven't been doing."

Harper's status remains up in the air for tomorrow's series finale in Cincinnati.

"I'll see how I feel tomorrow," Harper said to reporters. "If I don't feel good, then I'll probably take another day. Of course, I don't want to do that but if it's smart enough for me to do that, then I'll do that and come back Monday and try to see how I feel then."

If Harper is unable to go on Sunday, it would be an unfortunate end to one of the hottest months for a hitter in the game's history. During May, Harper slaughtered opposing pitchers. In 25 games, he has launched 13 homers, driven in 28 runs, scored 23 runs and walked 20 times while compiling a staggering .369/.495/.905 slash line. His 1.400 OPS in the month is so unbelievable that it is worth a double take.