The Phillies placed Harper (personal) on the paternity list ahead of Monday's game against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Per MLB rules, players placed on the paternity list have to miss between one and three games, so expect Harper to take the maximum amount of time to welcome in the newest addition to his family. Harper could link back up with the Phillies in Cincinnati on Thursday for the club's series finale with the Reds. Infielder Kody Clemens was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Tuesday's 5-0 victory over Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

Harper extended the Phillies lead to 3-0 with an opposite-field double off Austin Gomber in the sixth inning before capping the scoring with a two-run homer off Tyler Kinley in the eighth. Harper's gone 3-for-7 with four RBI in his last two contests after going just 2-for-27 in his previous seven games. Overall, he's slashing .215/.301/.462 with four home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored through his first 17 games this season.

Harper went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI in Friday's win over the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

After opening the season with a tough 0-for-11 streak, Harper has come alive this week. He tallied another three hits Friday including two doubles off the left-handed Nationals starter Patrick Corbin. Harper later added a run-scoring single in the seventh inning to notch his seventh RBI on the season.

Harper went 3-for-4 with three home runs and six RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Harper kicked off a monstrous evening with a solo blast his first time up and another to lead off the fourth. He then put the game out of reach with a grand slam in the seventh inning. Harper entered the day 0-for-11 at the plate through his first three games, and with Tuesday's historic performance, he erased any memory of his brief season-opening slump. It was the second three-homer game of his career and it led to a career-high six RBI for the 31-year-old.

Harper is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger remained in the game Saturday after taking a tumble over the camera well railing attempting to field a foul ball, but he won't be in the lineup for Sunday's series finale. Manager Rob Thomson said it's a scheduled off day, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, so Harper is apparently fine and should be back in the lineup Monday. He didn't see much action down the stretch in spring training due to a back issue and is off to a slow start, going 0-for-6 with two walks, a run and a stolen base in the first two games of the season. Alec Bohm will shift to first base while Edmundo Sosa receives a start at the hot corner.

Harper (back) is starting at first base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Harper was able to take seven at-bats on a back field Friday, one of which resulted in him legging out an infield single. The 31-year-old slugger figures to be ready to go for Opening Day, but he has gone just 5-for-22 with three runs scored this spring.

Harper (back) had seven at-bats on a back field Friday and hopes to play first base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Matt Gelb of The Athleticreports.

EDGE Analysis

The 31-year-old was able to beat out an infield single, which seems to bode well for the back stiffness that's sidelined him for the past week. Harper returning to action this weekend would quell questions about his availability for Opening Day.

Harper (back) hopes to return to action Friday in either a Grapefruit League game or minor-league game, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Phillies have held Harper out for a few days with soreness in his lower back, but he insists he's not worried about the injury and is just exercising caution. The 31-year-old is slated to be the Phillies' full-time first baseman this season after serving primarily as a designated hitter in 2023 following his return from his November 2022 Tommy John surgery.

Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper has been held out the past few days with back stiffness and won't play Monday, but the slugger is expected to rejoin the lineup later in the week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, as Thomson said there is "zero" concern for Harper's Opening Day availability. Still, with less than two weeks before the March 28 opener, it's worth keeping an eye on the 31-year-old's status over the next few days.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Harper is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday versus Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thomson didn't specify whether Harper would be deployed at designated hitter Wednesday or if he would make his first start at first base, the position that he's slated to play on a full-time basis during the 2024 season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in November 2022, Harper never made enough progress in his throwing program for the Phillies to feel comfortable returning him to his familiar spot in right field this past season, with the 31-year-old instead serving as a DH upon being cleared to debut in May before he got some exposure to first base following the All-Star break. Since he ultimately made 36 starts at first base, Harper should already carry eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues in 2024, but he's no longer outfield-eligible and doesn't look poised to regain outfield eligibility even though his surgically repaired elbow is no longer a concern.