Despite quad issue, Harper plays vs. Cards

By Bill Ladson

April 17, 2014

WASHINGTON -- Despite experiencing left quad tightness, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was in Thursday's lineup and playing left field against the Cardinals.

Harper went 0-for-4 in the Nats' 8-0 loss.

Manager Matt Williams isn't worried that the injury could get worse. He pointed out that Harper could run the bases 100 percent. Williams also said that Harper is guarding the injury against plays he doesn't have to go all out on.

"It's tight on him, but we have to make sure that we are taking the right precautions so he could continue to play. We don't want to get it too bad," Williams said. "The thing that Bryce has to do is make sure he monitors [the injury] himself. He has been playing a lot of center field, he has been running the bases a lot. Those are all good thing and he has done it fine."

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the Time. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats.