Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott out of Lineup for Game 3 vs Braves

If the Philadelphia Phillies want to avoid being swept in their opening series against the Atlanta Braves, they're going to have to do it without Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott.

A day after Harper took a spill into the camera well tracking a foul ball, he is not in the lineup on Easter Sunday, Alec Bohm is moving over to play first base.

According to Rob Thomson, this was a scheduled day off for Harper and has nothing to do with the incident in Saturday's game.

Harper is hitless in six at-bats so far this season and will sit with the Braves throwing lefty Chris Sale today.

Also, Whit Merrifield moves to second base today as Stott gets the day off. Stott was a bright spot in the game on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in a loss Saturday to Atlanta.

Making their 2024 Phillies debuts today are Edmundo Sosa, who is at third base, and Christian Pache, who is in left field.

1. Schwarber DH
2. Turner 6
3. Bohm 3
4. Realmuto 2
5. Castellanos 9
6. Merrifield 4
7. Sosa 5
8. Pache 7
9. Rojas 8

That will be the lineup for Ranger Suárez who is making his first start of the season.

Phillies Injury Notes

Prior to today’s game against the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies placed right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz on the 15-day injured list with a left ankle sprain. To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, right-handed pitcher Nick Nelson was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Ortiz appeared to injure his ankle on a grand ball back up the middle and will likely be out for the next two weeks.