Advertisement

Nationals host Marlins in Free Game of the Day

The Washington Nationals season is pretty much sewn up. They’ve had the NL East clinched for a while now and in the season’s final days, they’re mostly trying to lock down the No. 2 spot in the NL postseason. There, they’ve got a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who they’ll face in the NLDS.

There’s another big storyline for the Nats this weekend, though, and that’s the health and productivity of star outfielder Bryce Harper, who hasn’t played since Sunday when he left the Nats’ game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Harper hurt his thumb when Jung-ho Kang faked a tag at third base, making Harper slide awkwardly and hurt himself.

[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest now]

The Nats have said Harper’s thumb has no structural damage and manager Dusty Baker has said he’s just trying to limit the chances of Harper re-injuring himself. But for Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins, Harper is back in the lineup, batting third and playing right field.

You can see how he fares Friday night on Yahoo Sports as it’s our Free MLB Game of the Day. You can stream the game on Yahoo’s Sports Home, MLB index, video home and this very post. Local blackouts apply, per MLB rules. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Bryce Harper's September has been worrisome so far. (AP)
Bryce Harper's September has been worrisome so far. (AP)

The thumb injury is only a small piece of the Harper saga at this point. He’s been mired in a prolonged slump that may or may not be because he’s playing through a shoulder injury. Depends who you believe.

Nonetheless, he’s hitting .244, which is almost 100 points off his .340 average from last year’s MVP season. He’s hit 24 homers, driven in 85 runs and has a .375 OBP. Those aren’t bad numbers, they’re just not the 42 homers, 99 RBIs and league-leading .460 OBP he produced last season. This is especially concerning: He’s hit .214 in September with just one homer.

Which Harper we see in the postseason could greatly affect how things go in October for the Nats. Harper’s already proven himself to be a player who loves the big stage (and produces when he’s on it). Yet, the diminished productivity and injury concerns mean uneasiness for a Nats team that already lost Wilson Ramos this week and is looking at starting the NLDS without Stephen Strasburg.

“What’s up with Bryce Harper?” isn’t a question people will be asking just Friday night or this weekend. It’s something that will linger as long as the Nats play this October.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!