Bryce Harper ‘day to day’ after exiting Phillies game against Nationals with back issues

Bryce Harper exited Thursday night’s game before the fifth inning with a mid-back spasm, according to the Phillies.

“It’s just day to day,” manager Rob Thomson said.

Harper, who was unavailable for comment after the Phillies’ 6-2 victory over the Nationals, is expected to be checked Friday, according to Thomson, before the opener of a three-game series against the Twins.

Thomson said Harper was unsure of how the back issue arose.

“[The training staff] came up between innings and told me it stiffened up,” Thomson said. “I said, ‘Well, that’s it.’”

With one out in the fourth inning, Harper tried to field a grounder that bounced off the first base bag and glanced off his face. The play was initially scored as an error but later changed to a hit for the Nationals’ Dominic Smith.

Harper was making his 12th start at first base, a position that he volunteered for this season after being cleared to play defense in his return from offseason surgery to reconstruct a right elbow ligament.

In 83 games, Harper is batting .293/.381/.428 with 21 doubles and seven homers. He’s regaining his power stroke lately, with two homers in his last six games.

Alec Bohm moved to first base to replace Harper, while Rodolfo Castro entered the game at third base.