Phillies' Bryce Harper's sting from "seeing Nationals win World Series in 2019" will vanish with 2024 postseason triumph, says MLB insider
On Tuesday, MLB insiders Chris Rose and Trevor Plouffe discussed Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies' chances of winning the World Series this season.
The Phillies clinched their first NL East title in 11 years with a 6-2 win against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. Before making his move to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019, Harper spent six seasons playing for the Washington Nationals.
One of the biggest missing pieces of Bryce's highly decorated career so far has been a World Series title, which his former team won right after he moved on in 2019. The title continued to elude him in 2022 as the Phillies made it to the championship series but ultimately lost out to the Houston Astros.
On Tuesday's episode of Baseball Today, Plouffe talked about why finally winning the trophy this season may arguably be bigger for Bryce Harper than the city of Philadelphia.
"There's still gotta be that feeling in him, you leave one team and then they win the World Series without you. It's like breaking up with an ex and she goes on and marries or is with someone way better than you. It makes you feel insignificant a little bit, makes you question a lot of things." Trevor said. [3:54]
"Seeing the Nationals win the World Series in 2019 still has to sting for him, if he goes and wins one, which I believe he will with the Phillies, that sting will go away," Plouffe added. [5:20]
Bryce Harper homers at the Park as Phillies come up short in game two
The Philadelphia Phillies lost 10-4 to the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, as the Cubs came back into the series after having lost the first game. Taijuan Walker continued to struggle on the mound as he gave up three earned runs in only 1.2 innings pitched.
The evening started on a good note though, as Bryce Harper hit his 30th home run of the season in the first inning to give the Phillies an early lead. He set the tone for what the home fans would have expected to be another comfortable victory.
Ultimately though, it proved to be only consolation as the Cubs put up six in the very next inning and never surrendered that advantage.
Next, Bryce Harper and co. take on the Cubs in the final game of the series on Wednesday, chasing an important victory as they contest with the Milwaukee Brewers for a first-round bye.