Nationals lineup vs Indians: Bryce Harper sits again (stiff neck) in first of two with Cleveland

Bryce Harper left Saturday night’s game early with what he and Washington Nationals’ skipper Dusty Baker told reporters after the game was just a stiff neck.

“He’s okay,” Baker said after the second game of three with San Francisco in D.C.

“He just had a stiff neck for a couple of days, so anybody that’s ever had a stiff neck, you’re not yourself.

“So I took him out for precaution and then we’ll see if it’s any better tomorrow.”

Harper said it had been bothering him for a few days, so Baker told him to he wanted to take him out of the game and, “... hopefully get some treatment on that and feel better tomorrow or Tuesday and see where we’re at.”

After Sunday afternoon’s series finale with the San Francisco Giants, Baker was asked if Harper had any tests done or if there was any update?

“No testing,” Baker told reporters.

“Like I said, I was hoping not to use him today. I just figured with yesterday’s half-game off, today’s game off and tomorrow’s off, and then [Tuesday] is a night game, that gives him almost three and a half days to work on himself and get it right and I’m sure he’ll be fine by Tuesday.”

Harper’s struggles at the plate continued with his 0 for 3, 3 K game on Saturday night, which snapped a four-game hit streak.

Since July 1st, the 23-year-old defending NL MVP is 19 for 106 (.179/.299/.311) with two doubles and four home runs in 29 games and 127 plate appearances.

On the year, Harper has a .233/.374/438 line with 13 doubles and 20 HRs in 449 plate appearances, over which he’s been worth +2.7 fWAR.

He’s out again tonight as the Nationals take on the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a two-game set in the nation’s capital.

No word from Baker on why Harper’s out again, but he’s set to meet with reporters in the next few minutes, so we’ll update if there’s any information.

Here’s the Nationals’ lineup for tonight’s series opener with the Indians: