Michael Harris II was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with a right foot contusion after he fouled a ball off his foot in Saturday’s win over the Giants.
Harris is day-to-day, the Braves said. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Harris’ X-rays on the foot were negative.
“I’m feeling better than I did yesterday,” Harris said on Sunday. “I guess I didn’t really feel it going through the game yesterday. Once the adrenaline stopped, I kind of started to feel all of it.”
In the bottom of the third inning on Saturday, Harris fouled Logan Webb’s 89 mph changeup off his right foot. He immediately appeared to be in pain as he hobbled around in front of home plate.
Still, Harris played the rest of the game.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Harris wasn’t available Sunday unless the Braves needed him in an emergency.
Is Harris confident he’ll be in Monday’s lineup versus the Mets?
“We’re going through all the procedures and making sure that I’m going through everything and working on it,” Harris said. “My hope is to be in the lineup (Monday). I want to be in the lineup every day, but hopefully we’re going to keep working on it and see how it is tomorrow.”
Harris was originally in Sunday’s lineup batting second and playing center field. Eddie Rosario, the left fielder, instead was in the two-hole in Sunday’s lineup. Kevin Pillar was playing center field and batting seventh.
The Braves have a deep lineup. They can withstand losing Harris for a few days, if the injury is not serious.
But this is unfortunate timing for Harris. There is never an opportune time to get hurt, but Harris has been on fire over the last two months.
Since his three-hit game against the Mets on June 7, he’s batting .356 with a .956 OPS over 62 games. He has 15 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 29 RBIs over that span.
And, of course, Harris is one of baseball’s best defenders in center field. He can get to almost any ball, and possesses the athleticism to finish plays.
The Braves are obviously better when he’s healthy.
“Obviously there’s still some pain there, a little bit,” Harris said. “But just going to keep working on it to be in the lineup tomorrow.”
