Harper to injured list with bruised wrist

The Phillies insisted this week that Bryce Harper did not play Sunday and Monday simply because they wanted to give him a couple days off.

It had nothing to do with injury concerns, manager Joe Girardi said.

But the Phillies on Tuesday placed Harper on the 10-day injured list with a bruised left wrist -- although the front office is calling it a bruised left forearm -- despite both Harper and Girardi referring to it as a wrist injury. The move is retroactive to Sunday, meaning Harper can be activated as early as June 2, when the Phillies play their final game of a nine-game road trip in Cincinnati.

Harper -- who has battled back and right shoulder issues this season -- suffered the wrist issue last month when a 97 mph fastball ricocheted off his face and struck his wrist.

He suffered bruising and swelling afterward.

"It just kind of crept back up," Girardi said. "I can't tell you why, but it did. And we have to deal with it.

"He came in today and he's still the same. Try to get it out of there. A wrist can be a little tricky when you start trying to test them, like, is today the day we test? This gives him a few more days before we do anything."

Girardi and Harper spoke before Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Harper told Girardi that his wrist was sore. Girardi told reporters after the game that Harper was healthy. Girardi did not play Harper in Monday's series opener against the Marlins. He again said that Harper was healthy.

"There's a distinct advantage, if I tell you a guy's wrist is hurt, for the other manager," Girardi said. "The idea here is to win games. It's like me telling you who's available in the bullpen or not available. I don't like doing that because I don't want Don [Mattingly] to know who I might use or not use.

"I understand you want to know, you know? But there are distinct advantages that I can give another club if they know everything that is going on over here. I’m sorry that I had to do that, but we’re trying to win games. He’s just not ready to go. I thought he’d be ready on Monday or Tuesday and he’s not.”

Since Harper went 2-for-2 with one double and three walks against the Blue Jays on May 14 in Dunedin, Fla., he has gone 2-for-25 with one walk and 13 strikeouts.

Harper’s recent struggles lowered his season slash line from .318/.449/.582 to .274/.395/.489.

The Phillies activated outfielder Roman Quinn from the 10-day IL to take Harper’s place on the 26-man roster.