Bryce Harper doubtful to return to Phillies’ lineup until after road trip

Bryce Harper’s minimum 10-day term on the injured list expires Wednesday. It is possible, then, that he could play in the series finale in Cincinnati?

“I wouldn’t plan on that,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said.

Harper, who hasn’t played since May 22 because of a bruised left wrist/forearm and retroactively went on the injured list three days later, has resumed hitting, according to Girardi. He’s expected to continue along the progression Tuesday and Wednesday. The Phillies are off Thursday before opening an eight-game homestand Friday night against the Washington Nationals.

» READ MORE: Injuries are spiking across MLB this season. What can the Phillies do to survive? | Scott Lauber

Although Harper was hitless with 10 strikeouts in 16 at-bats before going on the injured list, the Phillies are 3-5 without him in the lineup. They have scored 13 runs in the last six games.

Shortstop Didi Gregorius is also missing from the lineup because of a swollen right elbow that has sidelined him since May 12. He continued Monday with his throwing program, although it doesn’t sound as if his return is imminent.

“The real test is when he starts swinging a bat,” Girardi said, although it’s not clear when that might take place.

Outfielder Roman Quinn’s latest injury is as serious as the Phillies feared.

An MRI exam confirmed that Quinn ruptured his left Achilles tendon, the team announced. The injury will end the 28-year-old’s season, require surgery, and prevent him from returning for nine to 12 months, according to the Phillies.

Quinn was injured in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. He went down as he was rounding third base on Ronald Torreyes’ two-run double in the fifth inning but managed to get up and hop across the plate to score.

After the game, Girardi said the Phillies “don’t expect to get any good news from the MRI.” Dr. David Pedowitz of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute will perform the surgery to repair Quinn’s Achilles tendon this week.

» READ MORE: Roman Quinn’s season and perhaps his Phillies career may have ended on Achilles injury in 5-3 loss to Rays

This marks the second time in Quinn’s injury-marred career that he has injured an Achilles. He ruptured his right Achilles in the minor leagues in 2013 and missed nearly seven months before returning six weeks into the 2014 season.

Quinn had returned last week from a lacerated right index finger. This was a pivotal season for him. He’s making $578,000 this year and will be eligible for salary arbitration in the offseason. He went 9-for-52 (.173) with 19 strikeouts in 28 games.

But Quinn’s value to the Phillies stems from his speed. He’s one of the fastest players in the majors and projects as a 26th man off the bench. The Phillies will now have to decide whether to tender him a contract for 2022.

“I feel for the kid. I really do,” Girardi said Saturday. “We’re going to miss him.”

While the Phillies’ offense struggled overall, first baseman Rhys Hoskins batted .302 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in May. “Rhys has grinded it out,” Girardi said. “We’ve played a lot of baseball and he’s been in there every day. God knows where we’d be without him.” ... Girardi said closer Hector Neris requested to pitch the ninth inning of Monday’s 11-1 loss to the Reds because he hadn’t appeared in a game since Thursday night in Miami. ... Outfielder Adam Haseley, who came back two weeks ago from a monthlong leave of absence for personal reasons, has been getting into shape in extended spring training in Clearwater, Fla. ... It has been a historic road trip for utilityman Brad Miller, the first Phillies player since at least 1900 to start five consecutive games at five positions (left field, third base, second base, first base, right field). ... Aaron Nola (3-4, 3.72 ERA) will start Tuesday night against Reds right-hander Sonny Gray (1-3, 3.40 ERA), a college teammate of Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham at Vanderbilt in 2009.