Phillies’ Harper set to have surgery on thumb
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will have surgery Wednesday to repair his broken left thumb and the team hopes the 2021 NL MVP can play again this season.
Manager Rob Thomson did not offer a timetable for Harper’s return on Tuesday, only saying he hoped Philadelphia’s franchise player would return down the stretch.
Harper’s thumb was broken when he was hit by a 97 mph pitch from San Diego Padres left-hander Blake Snell on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old Harper is hitting .318 with 15 home runs, 48 RBI and a .985 OPS, and has helped the Phillies recently surge back into playoff contention.
Suspensions handed down: Los Angeles Angels interim manager Phil Nevin was suspended 10 games and Seattle Mariners outfielder Jesse Winker received a five-game ban from Major League Baseball for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl during the second inning of Sunday’s game.
Nevin and Winker were two of 12 players or coaches suspended between the teams, according to an MLB release Monday night.
Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford received five games, Angels pitchers Ryan Tepera and Andrew Wantz were suspended for three, and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, Angels reliever Raisel Iglesias and major league interpreter Manny Del Campo received two games.
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon, who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing wrist surgery, will be suspended five games when he returns from the injured list. For now, he is prohibited from sitting on the bench for the next seven games.
Nevin received a significant suspension for Angels opener Wantz intentionally throwing at Winker while warnings were in place for both teams. Nevin made the decision to pitch Wantz instead of scheduled starter Jose Suarez.
Astros place Brantley on IL: The Houston Astros have placed five-time all-star Michael Brantley on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort.
The team announced the move Tuesday prior to a game against the New York Mets. Brantley left Houston’s 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday in the eighth inning. He was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts before being replaced by pinch-hitter J.J. Matijevic.
The 35-year-old outfielder is hitting .288 with five homers and a .785 OPS in 64 games this season.