Schwarber on track to return to Phillies lineup on Tuesday, Harper close behind originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
ATLANTA — Kyle Schwarber is on track to return to the Phillies lineup on Tuesday when he becomes the first eligible to be activated from the injured list.
“I think unless we have some type of setback, I would be surprised if he doesn’t get activated,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday afternoon before the Phillies began a road series against the Braves.
Schwarber was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday along with Bryce Harper. Schwarber is recovering from a mild groin strain and Harper from a mild hamstring strain.
Schwarber plans to run the bases Saturday in Atlanta “and Harp isn’t far behind on that,” Thomson said.
Running the bases at the final hurdle before any player returns. Neither of them will go on a rehabilitation mission.
“We’re not going to let them slide or anything like that,” Thomson said. “That’s probably the last step, but it doesn’t mean they run the bases just once, they’re going to have to run the bases a few times. But that’s the big test.”
The Phillies have a three-game weekend series in Atlanta, come out on Monday and finish the first half with a six-game set against the Dodgers and Athletics. You better believe Harper wants to get back to Dodgers games if possible. It’s a brilliant series that could be of great importance come playoff time in determining home-field advantage in the National League. The Phillies entered the weekend with a 4 1/2 game lead over L.A.
JT Realmuto (recovering from right meniscus surgery) ran on the field Friday afternoon before a thunderstorm began. The goal for him and Harper was to increase the intensity to 75-80%. It’s unclear whether Realmuto will return before the All-Star Game, but Thomson said this week that the Phillies will not keep any of their three injured players during the break if they are deemed ready to go.
