Bryce Harper hasn’t been his best this season. He knows it. The numbers show it. He has been injured, missing most of June because of inflammation in his right wrist. He hasn’t been making the best decisions at the plate.

As they slide into the second half of a make-or-break season, the Phillies recently faced a disturbing question: Who’s hurting them more, injured slugger Bryce Harper or eccentric closer Jordan Romano?

Ben Verlander, a former Tigers minor leaguer, took to X on Thursday to vent about his brother’s bad luck this season. He posted during the Giants’ 13-0 defeat to the Phillies in which Justin allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings.

The Phillies are first in the NL East without much from Harper. Monday, despite another loss at Oracle Park, offered some positive signs.

Bryce Harper and the Phillies weren't the only ones unhappy with how Monday night's loss to the Giants played out.

Bryce Harper is trying to find his way back after spending 25 days on the injured list. It hasn’t been easy. But hitting got harder in Monday night’s 3-1 loss to the Giants at Oracle Park. Harper stru

Casey Schmitt drove home the go-ahead run on a groundball in the eighth inning, Matt Chapman made a headfirst dive into home moments later for another run, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1.

Orion Kerkering allowed two runs in the eighth after Sánchez allowed one run over seven innings. The Phillies' struggles with runners in scoring position also continued.