Dansby Swanson doubled to right field, over Bryce Harper’s head, on a 96 mph 2-2 fastball from Max Scherzer that didn’t quite make it outside with two down in the fourth inning of Friday’s series opener between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.
Why was Harper playing shallow in right? Was it a lack of respect for or awareness of Swanson’s opposite field power?
“A lot of pitchers like their opposite fielder to play in a little bit and take away the blooper,” Tom Glavine suggested on the Braves broadcast.