Harper out with bursitis; other updates

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Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals lineup against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday after leaving Sunday’s game in the seventh inning with an aggravated sore knee. An MRI showed no structural damage for Harper, but he has been diagnosed with bursitis.

Team Medical Director Wiemi Douogiuh said a few days rest is the best course of action at this point.

“Bryce has got some inflammation of a bursa sac in the front of his knee,” Douogiuh said. “It has nothing to do with the joint. We got an MRI that just showed some soft tissue swelling, soft tissue edema. We anticipate it’s going to clear up in a couple of days. There is nothing structurally wrong with his knee.”

Harper said on Sunday he did not plan to miss any time, but Davey Johnson and the Nationals decided it was best to have him sit.

“If you were seeing the same thing I was seeing, he was hurting even when he came into the dugout,” Johnson said.

“I think it’s just uncomfortable -- it’s like an inflammation. We just need to let it calm down. It was a little more swollen today.”

Team trainer Lee Kuntz said the Nats are most concerned at this point with Harper re-injuring the knee.

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