Harper remains sidelined with knee soreness

Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper remains out of the lineup for a second straight game Wednesday due to lingering soreness from a pitch off his knee during Monday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Harper exited shortly after being hit by an 88-mph fastball from Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson to lead off the seventh, and was considered day to day following the game, according to manager Dusty Baker. He also sat out Tuesday's 5-1 win.

Mired in a rough stretch at the plate, Harper entered Memorial Day hitting just .205/.425/.372 with four homers, 31 walks, and 25 strikeouts in 27 games this month. Nearly two months into the 2016 campaign, Harper owns a .950 OPS with 13 home runs and a 1.23 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

The reigning MVP topped all outfielders in All-Star voting when Major League Baseball released the National League's first ballot update Wednesday for the July 12 game in San Diego.