PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Over the next 10 seasons, if the Phillies ever find themselves in a playoff or competitive regular season series against the Washington Nationals, expect Bryce Harper to dominate at Nationals Park, the venue he used to call home for seven seasons before signing with the Phillies in 2019.
"I love the ballpark, and I just feel really good in this ballpark and the batters box as well," Harper explained after hitting a two-run first inning home run in the club's 7-4 win Monday night. "So, every time I get in there, I feel like I'm the best player in the world and I just really, really do."
Harper's homer into his old club's bullpen was his 10th this month, his 26th of the season and his 100th at Nationals Park.
And what may be even more impressive about Harper's recent stretch, is that he's appeared in every game since July 17. He admitted that he's thought about taking days off, but he changes his mind when he's at the ballpark.
"I gotta keep posting every day," Harper said. "And I think this organization deserves that, my teammates deserve that and the fans as well."
Manager Joe Girardi said what Harper has done for the Phils in August has been incredible.
"He's one of those guys you don't necessarily get a soda or a hotdog when he comes up to hit," Girardi said with a chuckle. "You kinda stay in your chair and you wait to see the at bat."
Entering Wednesday, the Phillies trail the Braves by 3 1/2 games for first place in the National League East and the Cincinnati Reds by three games for the second Wild Card spot. The San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals are also chasing the Reds, and are ahead of the Phils. There are 31 games left.
As the Phillies try to navigate the rest of the season without Rhys Hoskins, and with J.T. Realmuto at less than 100%, Harper will probably have to carry his hot August into critical September if the Phillies are going to catch the Atlanta Braves, or one of the three teams ahead of them in the wild card, and end a nine-year playoff drought.
Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler said, "He told me he was about to turn it on, and he did, so it's pretty cool."
Asked when Harper said that, Wheeler said, "We'll keep that between us."
Whatever works.