Major League Baseball

Nationals OF Harper hampered by left hand injury

Published Apr. 26, 2014 12:00 p.m. ET

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WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will be out of the starting lineup with a left hand injury for Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres, but available to pinch-hit.

Harper hurt his hand with a head-first slide into third base Friday night after hitting a bases-loaded triple in the third inning of Washington's 11-1 victory. He stayed in the game for an inning before he was replaced.

Manager Matt Williams says Harper is available ''off the bench for sure.'' He says a hand specialist will look at Harper on Saturday.

''The early tests today are pretty good,'' Williams said. ''The X-rays are negative. There's some swelling there. We just want to make sure we knock it out.''

Kevin Frandsen will take Harper's place in left field on Saturday.

Harper went 2-for-2 and had had a career-high four RBIs on Friday night, giving him nine for the season as he lifted his batting average to .289. He has only one home run in 83 at-bats.

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