The Philadelphia Phillies still have their sights set on a deep postseason run. But with roughly a month until the MLB playoffs are set to begin, the injury bug has not been kind to the franchise.
Bryce Harper was removed from the Phillies’ Wednesday afternoon game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Edmundo Sosa stepped in to pinch hit for the Phillies star after he was hit by a 93-mile-per-hour fastball near the elbow area.
The injury was officially labeled a bruised left elbow with further testing set to occur.
This is not the first elbow issue that Harper has battled. The two-time MVP suffered a torn UCL back in 2022 that forced him into a DH role with the team. Harper had Tommy John surgery in the offseason and has shifted from the outfield to 1st base this season at least partially due to these issues.
More recently, Harper has battled some wrist and elbow injuries this season. He recently opened up to MLB.com last week saying the wrist has bothered him since May and the elbow issues have been more recent.
“I don’t want to make excuses for what I do,” Harper told MLB.com. “I’ve just got to get through it. Hopefully it gets better, rather than getting worse. (The wrist’s) finally getting to the point where I feel like it’s turning a corner. My elbow is just, like, there.”
While Harper has made it clear it is not the same ligament he previously dealt with, this still is not a great sign for Harper or the Phillies. He stayed in the game during the previous night’s thrilling comeback victory, but Harper showed signs of pain at the plate after whiffing on a pitch and striking out in the ninth inning.
On the field, Harper’s lack of power is noticeable. He has not hit a home run since August 9th and has hit just five total since the All-Star break. The eight-time All-Star has still put together competitive at-bats and has made good contact at times, but simply has not driven the ball at his usual rate.
For the Phillies to be at their best, they will need their superstar on the field and healthy. The status of his elbow will be worth monitoring moving forward as the end of the season is right around the corner.
Currently, the Phillies have the third-best odds to win the World Series at +600 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Philadelphia is also +290 to win the National League, trailing only the Dodgers, and have climbed to -2500 favorites to win the NL East after taking 3 out of 4 games from the Braves the previous series.
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