The Latest Breaking News from Bryce Harper

Expected to contend for an NL East title, the Phillies are 22-29 and 12 games behind the first-place New York Mets.

They are using the turnarounds of recent World Series winners as inspiration, but this once-promising team is in bad shape.

PHILADELPHIA — On the eve of the most important game as Phillies manager, Joe Girardi lost his best all-around player for three months to a fractured finger. Seventy minutes before the game, he lost the reigning MVP as a late scratch due to forearm soreness in a right arm that…

PHILADELPHIA — After needing extra innings only three times in their first 46 games, the Giants played extra baseball Tuesday night for the second time in as many games with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies had a new franchise owner for the 2019 season. John Middleton was promising to spend “stupid” money on free agents after years of rebuilding. I remember that caused angst for some Braves backers because their favorite team is owned by Liberty Media.

Girardi is in the final year of his contract with Philadelphia.

NEW YORK — Jeff McNeil stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners at the corners and his team down by one.

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers rolled into Washington this week with one of the best records in the major leagues, a loaded roster, and championship aspirations. The Washington Nationals, less than three years removed from knocking out the Dodgers on their way to winning the World Series, have none of…

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper had barely finished circling the bases — and shouting “Let’s Go!” at his teammates in the dugout — when Nick Nelson began trotting in from the bullpen, an unlikely closer in a ballpark that hasn’t been kind to Phillies closers.

PHILADELPHIA — Just under a week ago, the Phillies faced Dodgers starter Julio Urías and put up eight hits and five earned runs against him. On Friday, they only managed to get two hits off the lefty, and only seven hits and one earned run against the Dodgers overall, in…

PHILADELPHIA — The final stanza of a nondescript Phillies loss was playing out Thursday afternoon when Bryce Harper popped his head out of the dugout.