Harper suffers bruise after taking pitch off knee

Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper made an early exit from Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, departing after taking a pitch off his right knee in the top of the seventh at Citizens Bank Park.

After the Nationals escaped with a 4-3 victory, manager Dusty Baker told reporters the three-time All-Star is considered day to day with a right knee contusion, and the club will learn more Tuesday.

Harper, who went hitless with one strikeout in his first two plate appearances, wasn't immediately lifted after being hit by an 88-mph fastball from Jeremy Hellickson to lead off the seventh, but the reigning NL MVP was replaced in right field by Chris Heisey in the home half of the frame. Heading into Monday's series opener, the 23-year-old had been hit by a pitch just once in 50 games this year.

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.