Vote NOW to help Bryce start in '21 ASG

NEW YORK -- The Phillies hoped that Bryce Harper could pinch-hit in Sunday’s series finale against the Mets, if needed.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi said at Citi Field that Harper has tightness and swelling in the left calf, after a pitch hit him Saturday. Harper has started only 54 of the team’s 75 games (72 percent) this season because of various ailments, including injuries to his back, left wrist/forearm, right shoulder and face, after a 97 mph fastball hit him in the head in April in St. Louis.

• VOTE NOW: Google MLB All-Star Ballot

Harper still found a spot as one of nine finalists to make the National League All-Star team as an outfielder. You can vote NOW up until Thursday at 2 p.m. ET. The All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Pitchers and reserves will be revealed on July 4 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN. The All-Star Game is July 13 on FOX.

Fans can vote at mlb.com/vote -- or on Google by searching "MLB All-Star vote" or "Vote" along with a player's name. You can vote daily on both platforms, including once per day on MLB.com.

Harper is in seventh place among NL outfielders, so he is a longshot candidate. He is batting .272 with 11 home runs, 21 RBIs and an .878 OPS in 55 games. Harper has hit 11 solo home runs, which is a franchise record to start a season, although seven of them have either tied the game or given the Phillies the lead.

Despite hitting third or fourth all season, he has hit with a remarkably low number of runners in scoring position. Harper has hit with runners in scoring position in just 21.6 percent of his plate appearances.