Harper and Schwarber return from the injured list to start the Phillies series against the Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are back in the Philadelphia Phillies roster — Harper is also in the All-Star game — just in time for a series against Los Angeles in a battle of the National League division leaders.

Harper and Schwarber both suffered injuries at the end of a loss to Miami on June 27. The Phillies lost their two strongest hitters, their top pitcher and even a few games — the NL East leaders went 5-4 without them — while recovering from their injuries. Harper strained his left hamstring while running the bases in the ninth inning, and Schwarber strained his left groin on a throw to left field in the eighth inning.

Schwarber was the designated hitter and led off on Tuesday against the Dodgers and Harper was third and played first base.

“I want to play smart, I want to do it right and just have a good week,” Harper said before the opening game against the Dodgers.

Harper, a two-time NL MVP, had a .303 batting average with 20 doubles, 20 home runs and 58 RBIs and was named National League Player of the Month for May and June. He leads the NL in several categories, including average, home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

Harper also said he would play in the All-Star Game on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Harper led the NL in votes with 3,277,920 and was second in the major leagues behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. He was selected to his eighth All-Star Game, his seventh as a starter. His previous All-Star appearances were as an outfielder and designated hitter.

“I’m not going to put on the cape,” Harper said.

Schwarber had a .250 batting average with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs and led the NL in walks before being injured while playing in the outfield, only the third time this season.

“I’m 100% fit and that was the most important thing,” said Schwarber. “I just wanted to make sure I was 100% fit and not force myself to go through it, just play and work on getting healthy. It was just about getting healthy first and then being able to play.”

The Phillies designated for assignment outfielder David Dahl and sent infielder Kody Clemens to Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the three-game series. Clemens posted a .242 batting average in 24 games with the Phillies, while Dahl posted a .207 batting average in 19 games.

The Phillies are still without catcher JT Realmuto after he underwent surgery to remove cartilage in his right knee in June. The three-time All-Star hit seven home runs and his 17-game hitting streak in May was the longest by a Phillies catcher in the modern baseball era.

“Once JT is back,” Schwarber said, “hopefully that’s the last little stumbling block we hit so we can finish this thing healthy and strong and see where we go.”

The Phillies are 13-12 since Realmuto was placed on the 10-day IL on June 10. In Realmuto’s absence, Harper leads the club in OPS (1.185), Schwarber is second (1.096) and shortstop Trea Turner is third (.926).

The Phillies entered Tuesday night with the best record in baseball at 58-32 and the Dodgers led the NL West at 55-36. The Phillies expected another full house at Citizens Bank Park for Shohei Ohtani’s first visit of the season – their season attendance of 1,919,133 trails only the Dodgers and Yankees.

“It’s always fun when you go somewhere, especially at home, and know you’re going to find an electric atmosphere,” Schwarber said.

It will be the seventh game in which Harper and Ohtani have faced each other. Harper and Ohtani are two of only three active MLB players with multiple MVPs. Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout has three.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb