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Harper Starts DH Despite Knee Soreness, Eyes 162-Game Goal

8/12/2026

28 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Bryce Harper started at DH on Aug 10, 2026, despite left-knee soreness.
Harper first hurt his left knee sliding into second base on July 11, 2026.
Interim manager Don Mattingly said Harper will stay in right field for the next 42 games, having played all 120 games this season, which keeps a 162-game goal realistic unless the knee worsens.

History

Historical Context

Mark McGwire’s 1998 sprint to a 70-home-run season broke Roger Maris’s 61-HR mark and helped revive MLB attendance after the 1994 strike. His decision to play through a wrist sprain showed clubs would risk player health for record races. That precedent echoes in 2026, when Bryce Harper’s left-knee soreness and Don Mattingly’s 42-start pledge highlight ongoing debates over injury management.

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Story summary

Bryce Harper started at DH on Aug 10, 2026, despite left-knee soreness.
Harper first hurt his left knee sliding into second base on July 11, 2026.
Interim manager Don Mattingly said Harper will stay in right field for the next 42 games, having played all 120 games this season, which keeps a 162-game goal realistic unless the knee worsens.

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