Bryce Harper sat out the Philadelphia Phillies‘ game against the Houston Astros o

CLEARWATER http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , Fla. (AP) — n Saturday, saying he’s “a little sore” one day after getting hit by a pitch and bruising his right ankle.Manager Gabe Kapler said he had no concerns about Harper being ready for opening day on March 28 against Atlanta. Harper, who recently signed a record $330 million, 13-year contract, agreed with his manager.“As of right now, no,” Harper said. “If I felt that way then I’d probably tell you guys. I really don’t.”X-rays were negative and Harper was listed as day to day.“Bryce played catch today, he also did some agility work in the weight room,” Kapler said after a 13-5 loss to the Astros. “He looked good. We’re going to evaluate him in the morning and see how he’s doing. As of right now we don’t have a firm plan for tomorrow yet.”Harper was struck by a 96 mph fastball from Toronto rookie Trent Thornton on Friday.“Felt good today coming in Willie Mays Jersey ,” Harper said. “I was a little sore. Just trying to keep the swelling out, things like that.”When asked about dodging a major injury, Harper replied “I wish I would have dodged the ball.”The slugging outfielder clutched his ankle and stayed on the ground for a few moments after getting hit. Harper was checked by a trainer, limped toward the dugout with assistance and hobbled toward the clubhouse.“The first time I really got hit on the ankle bone,” Harper said.He’s 0 for 5 in 10 plate appearances in four exhibition games.“It’s definitely important to get back out there and get the at-bats that I need,” Harper said. “But also being smart. I’d rather be healthy than get my at-bats.”AARON IN ACTIONPhillies opening day starter Aaron Nola lasted just 2 2/3 innings Saturday. The right-hander allowed two runs, four hits, three walks and struck out two during a 64-pitch outing. “I felt good,” Nola said. “I was getting them to two strikes but their approach was pretty good with two strikes. They got themselves back in counts. I was missing just a little bit.” Nola will make his next start in a minor league game and throw 90 pitches.IN REMEMBRANCEKapler reflected on his Twitter site about a fan who told him of Philadelphia’s deal with Harper. Matt Vecere was en route to Kenya for an UN Environment Assembly and was killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Vecere was in the stands behind the Phillies’ dugout and was one of the first to relay the Harper reports.Kapler urged the Phillies and the broader baseball community to support causes Vecere cared about that included the environment http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , civil rights, social and environmental justice and advocacy for the less fortunate.“Baseball brings people together,” Kapler wrote. “But Matt strove for bigger causes than what we do every day. As he loved the Phillies, I hope the community can return that love.”TRAINER’S ROOMOF Odubel Herrera (hamstring) played in his first game and went 1 for 2 with a walk as the designated hitter. The hit was an opposite-field double off the wall in left. “That was a big test for me so I feel like I took a big step forward,” Herrera said. Aaron Nola will make one of his final home starts of the year Tuesday against the New York Mets.The Philadelphia Phillies and the Mets are meeting for the middle game in a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park. Lefty Steven Matz (5-11, 4.18 ERA) will be on the mound to oppose Nola (16-5, 2.42).The Phillies (76-73) have dropped two in a row after Monday night’s 9-4 loss, and they are seven games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East with 13 games to play. They are also 5.5 games back in the NL wild card race.Article continues below ...Nola is second in the National League in ERA (2.42), third in WHIP (0.971) and fourth in strikeouts (201) and innings pitched (193 2/3). However Barry Bonds Jersey , the All-Star hasn’t been as sharp in his first three starts this month.Nola has a 5.60 ERA and opponents have a .871 OPS against him in September. He’s allowed seven homers in his last three starts after giving up just eight in his first 27 appearances.The Washington Nationals took Nola deep twice and scored four runs off him in five innings last Wednesday. The five inning start tied for the second-shortest of the season for Nola.“He’s missed location at times and he has been punished for those missed locations,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after Nola’s last start. “But part of Nola’s success hinges on his deception, which he always has and has always had. …There are going to be stretches, just like with anyone else, that you run through and they just put the fat part of the bat on the ball.”Nola is 9-2 with a 2.46 ERA and 10.4 K/9 rate in 15 starts at home this season. He’s also has four wins against the Mets and has posted a 1.97 ERA in 32 innings against the Phillies divisional foe this season. Nola has a 3.38 ERA in eight career starts when facing New York.The Mets could help out their teammate Jacob deGrom — the front-runner for the 2018 NL Cy Young Award — by hitting Nola hard. On the mound, Matz will try to continue a streak of strong starts.Matz has a 2.67 ERA in five starts over the last month, giving up only 16 hits while striking out 35 batters in that 30 1/3-inning stretch. He notched a quality start in his last game, holding the Miami Marlins to three runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings last Thursday. Matz also helped himself, hitting his first career home run in the Mets’ win.“It was a good feeling Madison Bumgarner Jersey , I know that,” Matz told MLB.com of the two-run blast off Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara. “I definitely got all of it, and it definitely felt good to get my first one.”Matz, who is facing the Phillies for the fourth time this season, has a 4.58 ERA and 1.472 WHIP in four career starts against Philadelphia.