With each day that Bryce Harper still feels what he describes as an “achy” sensation in his right elbow, the Phillies are ever more thankful for a change to the collective bargaining agreement that they favored all along.
All hail the universal designated hitter.
The National League’s long-overdue adoption of a rule that has existed in the American League since 1973 paved the way for the Phillies to sign Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos last month and go all-in on outslugging poor overall team defense. But the arrival of the DH this season is having a larger, unintended consequence for the Phillies: It‘s keeping Harper off the injured list.