If the Philadelphia Phillies are to clinch their three-game weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, they’ll have to do so without Bryce Harper.
The Phillies said Harper “woke up this morning with a little bit of tightness in his lower back,” per Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The announcement came shortly after Joe Girardi’s lineup was released for Saturday’s matchup, which featured Matt Joyce batting seventh and playing right field.
It’s not the first time Harper has dealt with back issues in his career. The Phillies’ slugger said his back bothered him so much toward the end of last season that he had trouble throwing, and the club accordingly eased him into action this spring training.