ATLANTA – Michael Harris II (left quad tightness) was scratched from the Braves’ lineup prior to Friday’s series opener against the Phillies. But he pinch hit for Eli White in the sixth inning with two outs and a runner on first and second, and promptly hit a two-run double to give Atlanta a 4-3 lead. He was then pulled for a pinch-runner.
Harris was removed from Thursday’s 7-2 win over the Nationals after his left quad tightened as he ran to second base with a seventh-inning RBI double. He was replaced in center field by White during the bottom half of the inning.
Braves manager Walt Weiss, who said the center fielder is day to day, announced the scratch hours before Friday’s first pitch after Harris was originally slated to play center and hit fifth for the NL East-leading Braves.
“He felt good [after] running around,” Weiss said. “We put him through some tests, but after he cooled down, there was still some tightness there. We’re [going to] be cautious with him. It doesn’t feel like there’s [going to] be an [injured list stint].”
White started in center field and batted ninth in Friday’s opener.
Harris entered April 10 hitting .213 with a .543 OPS. The 2022 National League Rookie of the Year has hit .447 with five home runs and a 1.383 OPS over the 11 games that have followed. He’s now hitting .318 with a .921 OPS.