Phillies' Bryce Harper Expected to Return to Lineup on June 3rd
Phillies' Bryce Harper Expected to Return to Lineup on June 3rd originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a tough blow when superstar first baseman Bryce Harper was hit by a Spencer Strider pitch against the Atlanta Braves. After getting hit, Harper missed multiple games, with concern mounting that he'd be out for a while.
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Fortunately, in a post on Twitter/X from Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Harper is expected to be back for the Phillies against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, June 3rd.
Harper is reportedly feeling much better, which is a great sign for his availability during the Phillies series up in Toronto. Harper's injury was never expected to be long-term, but the injury didn't look great, and his absence from the field and lineup was noticeable.
In the four games since Harper was hit by Striders pitch, the Phillies have gone 1 and 3. During that stretch, the Phillies offense has scored 17 runs, but the defense and pitching has given up 36 runs.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) is hit by a pitch during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
While Harper doesn't affect the pitching staff, or have such a massive impact on the defense, his absence affected the team in some capacity. Getting Harper back into the lineup will be a huge boost for the offense, and the morale of the team.
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Harper has been one of the best hitters on the Phillies in 2025. He has a battign average of .267, tied for fifth on the team with Kyle Schwarber. Harper has 8 home runs, second on the team behind only Schwarber.
He also has 54 hits, 30 runs, and 33 RBI, all within the top 5 for the Phillies in each category. Harper also has an OPS of .825, which is the second highest on the team.
Putting Harper back into the lineup will be a huge boost for the Phillies during their road trip up to Canada. Harper's return is not only sorely needed, but a huge relief following a scary hit-by-pitch in the Phillies home opener against the Braves.
Related: Phillies Call Up Minor-League Reliever, DFA Struggling Veteran Reliever
Related: Would José Alvarado Be Useful in Phillies Trade Discussions?
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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