Bryce Harper out of the Phillies’ lineup for series opener vs. Twins

Bryce Harper is out of the Phillies’ lineup for the opener of their three-game series against the Twins on Friday at Citizens Bank Park. Harper exited Thursday’s game against the Nationals in the fifth inning with back spasms.

“I feel better today,” Harper said. “We’ll see how I feel [Saturday].”

Harper was making his 12th start at first base on Thursday. That stretch at first marked his first time playing defense since April 16, 2022, when he injured his elbow on a throw from right field.

“I felt it in the first inning, but I didn’t feel like it was fair for me to come out of the game in the first,” Harper said, “for [Rodolfo] Castro to have to get ready immediately. I thought I could loosen it up and I wasn’t able to get it loose to where it needed to be.”

Harper said he felt his back spasms with everything from hitting to throwing to fielding on Thursday. He is undergoing treatment to try to get his back loosened up. Harper is not expected to pinch-hit Friday.

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Harper is still day to day.

“He felt a little bit better today, so that’s good news,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said on Friday. “We’ll see how they work it out over the course of the night.”

José Alvarado (left elbow inflammation) threw a 20-pitch live bullpen session on Friday. Thomson said Alvarado’s pitches looked “unbelievable.”

“[He was throwing] strikes,” Thomson said. “The cutter was — it had a lot of depth. When he has his really good cutter, that’s what it looks like.”

Alvarado said the plan is for him to throw a light bullpen session on Sunday, take an off day on Monday, and start a rehab assignment at triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. He said it’s possible that he’ll be able to rejoin the Phillies by the Nationals series in Washington next weekend.

“I feel happy because I feel good, everything feels normal,” Alvarado said. “I know my teammates need me. I’m working to come back soon. Help the team. Compete.”

The Phillies’ bullpen has been showing some wear and tear lately. Part of this is because they have a seven-man bullpen right now, with Michael Lorenzen pitching out of the rotation. Another part of it is because they’ve played a number of close games, forcing Thomson to lean on the same group of relievers in high-leverage spots. Alvarado’s return will help alleviate that.

Alvarado hasn’t pitched in a game for the Phillies since July 6. He has a 1.38 ERA with nine walks and 39 strikeouts through 26 innings this season.

“It gives you more depth,” Thomson said. “Another high-leverage guy. You get him back to where he was throwing in the beginning of the year, that’s a really, really good bullpen.”

Thomson said that Alvarado will likely need two outings in Lehigh Valley before he returns.

Ranger Suárez will start on Sunday against the Twins, according to Thomson. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola will make starts on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Blue Jays in Toronto.