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Phillies lose sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber to injuries
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The Philadelphia Phillies’ offense will be in search of alternate means of run production after both first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber were placed on the 10-day injured list Friday.
Harper is set to miss some time with what has been characterized as a mild left hamstring strain. Schwarber is headed to the IL with a left groin strain that also is considered mild.
The Phillies entered Friday’s play with the best record in baseball at 53-28, but already had been operating without catcher J.T. Realmuto, who is expected to miss at least another two weeks after a surgical procedure on his right knee.
Harper, 31, is batting .303 with 20 home runs and 58 RBIs in 76 games this season. He was injured on the final play of Thursday’s 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins when he grounded out.
A two-time MVP in 13 career seasons, Harper has batted .282 with 326 home runs and 947 RBIs in 1,584 games for the Washington Nationals (2012-18) and Phillies. He is a seven-time All-Star.
Schwarber, 31, is batting .250 with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs in 79 games this season. Over 10 seasons, Schwarber is a career .229 hitter with 263 home runs and 597 RBIs in 1,058 games for the Chicago Cubs (2015-20), Washington Nationals (2021), Boston Red Sox (2021) and Phillies.
In corresponding moves, the Phillies reinstated infielder Kody Clemens (back) from the injured list and recalled outfielder Johan Rojas from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.