Harper out of Phillies' lineup due to right wrist injury

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper seemingly avoided a major injury scare last week when he missed only five games after being struck on the right elbow by a 95 mph fastball from Spencer Strider.

But now, there is concern over Harper's right wrist.

After returning to play all three games in Toronto earlier this week, Harper was not in the lineup for Friday night's series opener against the Pirates at PNC Park -- but it was not because of the elbow injury that sidelined him previously.

"It's his right wrist, it's a little sore," manager Rob Thomson said. "It's been sore for a while. He's been fighting through it."

Thomson, who said this is a day-to-day situation for now, reiterated that this is something Harper has been dealing with before the May 27 hit-by-pitch. Harper had been "grinding," per Thomson, but the two-time MVP told the club's training staff prior to Friday's game that his wrist was bothering him a bit more than it has been.

Harper homered in his return to the lineup on Tuesday, but he went a combined 0-for-8 with five strikeouts over the next two games. He struck out swinging three times on Thursday -- just the second time he's done that this season.

"He's just having trouble swinging," Thomson said. "So, if it's affecting his swing, then we're going to hold him off and get it right."

Thomson said he wasn't sure if there was an exact play on which Harper initially did something to his wrist.

It's also unclear if potentially compensating for the elbow injury had anything to do with the wrist flaring up. Harper was unavailable for comment before the game.

It's worth noting that this is not the first time Harper has battled through a wrist issue. He started wearing a protective black sleeve on his right arm late last August, acknowledging at the time that he was dealing with soreness in both his wrist and his elbow.

Harper noted at the time that his wrist had been bothering him since May. He couldn't recall how or when exactly he first bothered his wrist, but said it was something that had progressed throughout the season.

"[It] just generally got worse," Harper said at the time last year. "I’ve been grinding through that.”

The Phillies are hoping they can nip it in the bud this time around to avoid a similar situation playing out this season.