X-rays on Harper's left thumb come back negative

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

September 26, 2016, 8:21pm

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Nationals manager Dusty Baker offered a bit of positive news late Monday night after announcing that catcher Wilson Ramos would have to undergo an MRI to check the status of an apparent right knee injury suffered in the sixth inning of Monday's 14-4 loss to the D-backs.

X-rays on right fielder Bryce Harper's left thumb came back negative. Harper did not play in Monday's series opener because of the injury, which occurred on an awkward slide in Sunday's 10-7 win at Pittsburgh.

"Bryce's X-rays came out negative, so that's a positive note in itself," Baker said. "It just seems like down this stretch you lose a guy, gain a guy. Like Stephen Drew. I'm glad we got Stephen Drew back. And who knows? Somebody else might step up and be the hero, the least likely of people. That's how I think."

Harper jammed his thumb sliding into third base and was initially concerned that he might have repeated the torn ligaments he suffered in 2014. But Baker hopes that with the X-ray results returning good news, he will be able to get Harper into some games before the postseason begins next week.

"I was just glad that the X-rays were negative," Baker said. "He could be back within a couple days, a few days. That's big right there. The swelling's down, so I think his strength is up, I heard. It's very positive. We still got time for him to get well."

And that is good news because the club is still without right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who is on the disabled list with right elbow soreness.