Phillies have a Bryce Harper problem, and it's about him and all his teammates, too

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Phillies have a Bryce Harper problem, and it's about him and all his teammates, too originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Bryce Harper likes to bat third.

And so when the Philadelphia Phillies put a batting lineup together, that's where they put Harper. The superstar gets to have some influence on that, apparently.

The problem is that the Phillies often have Harper up at the plate with no one on base.

Harper leads all of MLB in plate appearances with two outs and no one on base, having done so 59 times, according to Ryan Spaeder. Spaeder adds that Harper has done it at least once in 42 separate games, which is also first in the majors.

This could still happen to Harper in a different spot in the order, but it's less likely than if he's batting third and always has the chance of this happening in the first inning.

For reference, behind Harper's 59 times, next-closest on the Phillies is Alec Boehm at 36.

Most times up with two outs and no one on base among #Phillies players:

59: Bryce Harper
58: N/A
57: N/A
56: N/A
55: N/A
54: N/A
53: N/A
52: N/A
51: N/A
50: N/A
49: N/A
48: N/A
47: N/A
46: N/A
45: N/A
44: N/A
43: N/A
42: N/A
41: N/A
40: N/A
39: N/A
38: N/A
37: N/A
36: Alec Bohm https://t.co/cXbdvI0fG7

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) May 31, 2026

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Much has been made in recent weeks of the Phillies' lineup construction. They've tried moving Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner around at the top.

Turner has struggled mightily this season, which has made everything tougher for the Phillies. That's also part of the reason Harper is so often hitting with no one on base.

Clearly, Philadelphia should want Harper up with fewer outs and with more baserunners, but that's not happening right now. It's something they definitely should consider finding a solution for.

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