In DC, Harper is 'the best player in the world'

WASHINGTON -- Bryce Harper has not played for the Nationals since 2018, but he still loves coming to the ballpark where he started his career. He played for four National League East champions here. He won the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player Award here, too.

It brings out the best in him.

“Every time I get in there, I feel like I’m the best player in the world,” Harper said following Monday night’s 7-4 victory over the Nationals. “I just really, really do. That’s kind of how I feel.”

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Harper has been hitting like the best player in the world for more than a month, regardless of the ballpark. He is batting .338 with 16 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 27 RBIs and a 1.205 OPS in a stretch of 41 consecutive starts that began on July 17. He leads baseball in OPS in that stretch. He is second in on-base percentage (.483) to Juan Soto (.503). He is second in slugging percentage (.722) to George Springer (.759). He is fourth in batting average to Starling Marte (.364), Austin Riley (.353) and AJ Pollock (.345).

Harper hit a two-run homer in the first inning on Monday to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. It was the 100th homer of his career at Nationals Park. His leadoff single in the third sparked a three-run rally. The early at-bats helped the Phillies (67-64) win their fourth consecutive game and move within 3 1/2 games of the Braves (70-60) in the division standings with 31 games to play. The Phillies are just three games behind the Reds (71-62) for the second NL Wild Card, too.

“We have a long way to go,” Harper said. “We’ve got another whole month to play. I just try to stay in the moment, stay in the game and not really worry about what’s behind me or what’s ahead. Kind of what we need to do as a team right now, kind of just stay where we’re at, be where we are and forget what’s behind us and look forward to tomorrow.”

Harper missed time earlier this season with back, shoulder, wrist and facial injuries. But with the Phillies’ lineup depleted because of injuries and other absences, they are leaning on him more than ever.

“I’ve just got to keep going,” he said. “That’s what this organization expects. That’s what these fans expect. No matter who’s on the mound or how I’m feeling, I’ve got to keep posting every day. I want to play as much as I can. I’ve thought about taking days off. I’ve thought about many times going in there. ‘Hey, maybe I can get one today and it’ll do me good.’ But every time I get to the ballpark and think about it or telling [Joe] Girardi, ‘Hey, I feel I need one,’ then I get to the ballpark and it’s, ‘Never mind, I want to play.’”

Of course, Harper will need help to get the Phillies to the postseason. Phillies ace Zack Wheeler allowed four runs in six innings. It was a strange start for him. He walked the bases loaded in the first, but he escaped without allowing a run. He gave up a run on a bloop single to left in the second. He allowed a homer to Carter Kieboom in the third and another run on a wild pitch in the fifth.

Wheeler has had a few starts like that recently. He was 6-4 with a 2.05 ERA in his first 17 starts this season, striking out 139 and walking 25. He is 5-5 with a 4.59 ERA in his last 10, striking out 69 and walking 15.

“You have to take it with a grain of salt even though the results weren’t there for me like I wanted them to be,” Wheeler said. “Today felt pretty good for the most part. I know I had four walks, but after the second inning, I settled in a little better. I need to be better even when things aren’t going my way. I need to bear down and just get out of those innings.”

In the meantime, the Phillies have Harper.

“He's one of those guys you don't necessarily go and get a soda or a hot dog when he comes up to hit,” Girardi said. “You stay in your chair and you wait to see the at-bat.”

“I’ve always enjoyed just watching him be a baseball player,” Wheeler said. “Now that I’m on his team and I’m playing with him and watching him every day, it’s pretty fun. It’s special. There’s not a lot of guys out there like that. He told me [recently] he was about to turn it on, and he did.”