After a thrilling comeback victory by the Philadelphia Phillies against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, they were thoroughly outplayed on Friday.
The upcoming games will be crucial in shaping the Phillies’ season, as they could either face one of the most stunning collapses in MLB history or secure the top playoff spot if they can recapture their early-season form.
Currently, the team doesn’t seem to be the same one that held the best MLB record for most of the season. A significant concern for Philadelphia is the health of superstar Bryce Harper.
According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Harper is dealing with multiple injuries that might be affecting his performance. Harper himself admitted to issues with his elbow and wrist but downplayed their severity. He emphasized that while these injuries are present, they are not drastic, and he hopes they improve rather than worsen. Harper noted that his sore elbow is unrelated to his 2022 Tommy John surgery, though he’s been dealing with the wrist injury since May, which might linger into the playoffs.
Despite his struggles with power this month—having not hit a home run since August 9 and seeing his slugging percentage drop to .480—Harper has managed to remain effective. After a solid performance on Friday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, his batting average over the past nine games stands at .394, with six doubles and three RBIs. This suggests his injuries might be improving or that he’s adapting to play effectively despite not being a power hitter.
As the Phillies navigate their playoff push, Harper’s performance will be pivotal, especially given the current struggles of teammates Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
In a related note, Phillies owner Nick Castellanos has proposed a bold idea for Major League Baseball. In an interview with MLBFITS, Castellanos suggested that MLB should impose consequences on owners whose teams fail to compete consistently. He proposed that underperforming franchises should face pressure to sell, arguing that no one should have absolute ownership of the game.
