Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II, sidelined by left quad tightness, delivered a crucial two-run double as a pinch hitter in Friday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. The hit gave the Braves a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. Manager Walt Weiss described Harris as day to day.
Michael Harris II was scratched from the Braves' lineup hours before Friday's game against the Phillies due to tightness in his left quad. He had been scheduled to start in center field and bat fifth. Eli White took his place, starting in center and hitting ninth. Harris was removed from Thursday's 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals after feeling the injury while running to second base on a seventh-inning RBI double. White replaced him in center field during the bottom of that inning. Harris pinch-hit for White in the sixth inning Friday with two outs and runners on first and second. He lined a two-run double to put Atlanta ahead 4-3 before being replaced by a pinch runner. Braves manager Walt Weiss said Harris felt good initially after running but tightness returned after cooling down. “We put him through some tests, but after he cooled down, there was still some tightness there. We’re [going to] be cautious with him. It doesn’t feel like there’s [going to] be an [injured list stint],” Weiss said. Harris, the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year, entered April 10 batting .213 with a .543 OPS. Over his next 11 games, he hit .447 with five home runs and a 1.383 OPS, raising his season line to .318 and .921 OPS.
