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.
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.
Senior Reporter Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009.