CLEVELAND -- Star slugger Bryce Harper is making his first start at first base Friday night for the Philadelphia Phillies, who want to see if he can handle the position before they make any moves ahead of the trade deadline.
The defending National League champions enter the weekend 10 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East but in the thick of the wild-card race.
Harper, who has made a quick recovery from Tommy John surgery last year, has played 1,258 games and made two previous appearances at first, in 2018 and 2021.