Harper scratched, but enters game vs. Braves late

ATLANTA -- At 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, outfielder Bryce Harper was in the starting lineup, hitting leadoff for the Nationals. By 5 p.m., however, Harper was scratched from the lineup because of a left triceps injury, which occurred when he was hit by a Luis Avilan pitch on Friday night.

While in the batting cage Saturday, Harper had a tough time getting his arm loose, so he became a late scratch. Denard Span replaced Harper in the lineup in center field.

Harper entered as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the ninth inning and played the rest of the game in left field, going 0-for-2 in the Nationals' 8-7 win over the Braves in 15 innings.

In the last two series against the Braves, Harper has been hit by pitches three times.

In the first inning Saturday, Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg allowed a home run to Jason Heyward and then hit Justin Upton in the backside. Warnings were issued to both teams. Strasburg was then ejected in the second for throwing three consecutive wild pitches, two of which sailed behind Andrelton Simmons.