Harper better but out of Nats lineup for at least one more game

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

May 06, 2017, 2:16pm

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PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper informed Dusty Baker today his minor groin tweak has healed, hoping that might convince the Nationals manager to put him in the lineup for tonight's game against the Phillies.

Deep down, though, Harper must've known Baker's standard policy for this type of situation. Which is why he remained on the bench for the second straight day.

"He's better," Baker said. "When they tell me they're better, I like to hold them out at least another day."

It has long been Baker's modus operandi to be cautious with players returning from injury, and that even applies to a former league MVP who is putting up MVP-caliber numbers so far this season.

Harper hurt himself making a sliding catch against the Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon. He was held out of Friday night's series opener at Citizens Bank Park but could be available to pinch-hit tonight if he's able to take batting practice.

If not, a return to the lineup for Sunday's series finale appears to be in the cards.

"There's a potential for tomorrow," Baker said. "We'll see."

Chris Heisey started in Harper's place Friday night, and though the veteran twice was robbed of run-scoring hits by sliding catches in the outfield, he wound up going 0-for-4 and stranding eight teammates on base.

So tonight Rafael Bautista gets the nod in right field, the rookie's first career major league start. The 24-year-old is 0-for-4 so far in a week spent on the Nationals bench, with the first two of those at-bats actually coming against Mets catcher-turned-pitcher Kevin Plawecki.