Harper update:
Nationals say there’s no ligament damage, think he’ll return before end of season.
When Bryce Harper writhed in pain on the field and clutched at his left knee and then didn’t put weight on his left leg as he was helped off the field Saturday night, the possibility of a career-altering injury seemed realistic.
Harper was worried. “Of course, you’re going to think the worst,” he said. “It’s definitely a bad feeling.”
That bad feeling subsided as Harper walked up the stairs from the dugout to the clubhouse, tested his knee by jumping up and down, and then got the MRI exam results that revealed what the Nationals hope is season-saving news. General manager Mike Rizzo said Harper has a “significant” bone bruise in his left knee but avoided the type of ligament or tendon damage that could have put a pin in the team’s World Series aspirations.
There’s no definitive timeline for Harper to return, but manager Dusty Baker referenced 10 days to two weeks. At the very least, the Nationals are hopeful the outfielder will be back before the end of the season.
“It was definitely a relief,” Harper said Sunday. “We’re going to take some time to definitely let it heal. I want to be at 100 percent whenever I play. The World Series is definitely on my mind, playoffs, things like that.”
Rizzo said the Nationals believe they “dodged a bullet” but didn’t want to undersell the significance of the bone bruise, which came when Harper hyperextended his knee slipping on a wet base in the first inning of a rain-delayed game against the Giants.
“The bone bruise, it’s real,” Rizzo said. “It’s an injury, and we’re going to have to treat it accordingly.”
Rizzo said the conditions, which included steady rain during the play “aided” in the injury but didn’t blame Major League Baseball for going ahead with the game. Harper was upset about playing in the rain at 10 p.m. but called it a “freak accident.”
“I don’t like wet bases,” Harper said. “It’s just an unfortunate situation that happened. There’s nothing I can do.”
Harper, the 2015 MVP, is hitting .326 with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs in 106 games this season. Clippard to Astros: Houston acquired former A’s reliever Tyler Clippard from the White Sox for a player to be named or cash considerations. The Yankees sent Clippard to Chicago in a seven-player deal on July 18. The 32-year-old right-hander went 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA and two saves in 11 appearances with the White Sox. San Diego extends Green: The Padres committed to their rebuilding program under Andy Green, giving their manager a three-year extension through 2021.
“I can’t hide my happiness,” Green said. “I’m thrilled and excited to be able to stay here to lead this organization. There is no other place I’d rather be.”
Green, 40, is in the second year of his original contract with the Padres (51-66).
“In terms of him being the guy the group looks to, I don’t think there’s any question when we’re down in that clubhouse, he’s the leader,” general manager A.J. Preller said. Briefly: Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the majors with 100 RBIs, has a bruised left hand after being hit by a pitch Sunday in a game at Miami. Arenado was hit by an 88 mph fastball thrown by Vance Worley, and consulted with a trainer near the dugout before leaving the game in the fifth inning . ... The Rangers released infielder Pete Kozma, who was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A last month.