Bryce Harper Nearing Return to Phillies Lineup

The Philadelphia Phillies could be getting a key contributor back in their lineup as soon as Monday night when the Phillies host the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park.

Harper Expected to Return This Week

Bryce Harper used Sunday as a maintenance day, after facing Phillies minor league pitchers on Saturday, and is expected to return to the lineup sometime this week. Harper was with the team and took batting practice in Atlanta after missing about four weeks with a wrist injury.

"Looked like he got his bat speed and his timing looked fine," Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters in Atlanta.

The Phillies’ Offense Needs a Spark

Getting Harper back will be a big boost to the Phillies' struggling lineup, which was shut out twice in Houston last week and scored just three runs in the final two games of the Braves series.

Harper is hitting .258 with nine home runs and 34 RBI in 57 games this season.

Where will Harper hit when he returns?

When Harper left the Phillies' lineup, he was hitting in the No. 3 spot when Bryson Stott was leading off and in the No. 2 spot when Trea Turner was leading off.

Now the Phillies are using Turner exclusively in the leadoff spot, so will Harper hit No. 2 or No. 3?

Batting Second vs. Batting Third

Harper has actually been better this season in the No. 2 hole, hitting .305 with four home runs and a .391 on-base percentage. Hitting No. 3 this season, he is hitting just .240 with five home runs and a .359 on-base percentage.

In his absence, the team has used Kyle Schwarber in the two-hole, where he is hitting .241 with a .382 on-base percentage.  With Turner and Schwarber having such high on-base percentages, Harper could come up with plenty of RBI opportunities if they keep him hitting No. 3.

The top five in the lineup could be:

1. Turner
2. Schwarber
3. Harper
4. Bohm
5. Castellanos

After those five, it has been an adventure for the Phillies this season.

The Phillies have until July 31 to make a move to improve their lineup, which currently features three platoons: left, center, and second base.

When Harper returns, he will be back at first base, which means Otto Kemp will likely move to left field. The question is, will he take over the position or share it with Max Kepler? The 32-year-old Kepler has nine homers while slashing .207/.303/.374 across 246plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Kemp has added a little bit of punch to the Phillies' offense, hitting .246 with one home run and 10 RBI over his first 20 Major League games.