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• Updated Jun 18, 2026 at 2:10pm

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MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 04: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning of the game at loanDepot park on May 04, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

On Thursday night, the Philadlephia Phillies will open up a series with the New York Mets (at home).

They are coming off a series where took two out of three games from the Miami Marlins (also in Philadlephia).

During one of the game in the series, the Phillies moved Bryce Harper to DH (and Kyle Schwarber played 1st base).

Just Baseball wrote (on June 16): “Kyle Schwarber is getting his first start at first base with the Phillies tonight. His last start at first came 1,698 days ago in the ALCS with the Red Sox.”

Mattingly Makes Honest Harper Statement

GettyBryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts on base after his double in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 10, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

Recently, manager Don Mattingly was asked about Harper (via @SportsRadioWIP).

Reporter: “What have you thought of Bryce’s work at first base this year?”

Mattingly: “It’s been okay. I think it can get better. I think that’s the thing with everybody. I think we got him off the bag more as the season got started, that helped. And then just footwork around the bag I think is important for him to continue to work on… I think everybody can get better.”