With the amount of expectations built upon them, the month of April was exactly the kind of start to the season that the Washington Nationals wanted to avoid.
Even with eight wins in their last ten contest, Washington still finds themselves with only an even 15-15 record.
That’s the kind of hole that they have dug themselves into.
In his last two games, Harper has combined to collect six hits – FIVE of which have left the yard. That’s right, five-of-Bryce’s-last-six hits has been for home runs, while driving in ten runs.
Over his last ten games, Harper has 12 hits (.308), scored ten runs, hit five home runs and four doubles – to go along with 14 RBIs. The 12 hits has come despite the fact that he suffered a 1-for-17 slump in the middle five games of the span.
But when Harper has gotten ahold of the ball, he has torn the cover off the bat – currently sporting a .795 slugging percentage in that span.
The streak started with a three-game, five-hit span that saw four of those five hits go for doubles. His big games helped the Nationals take a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves before turning their attention to the New York Mets.
After suffering a brief slump against the Mets and the Miami Marlins, Harper broke loose on Wednesday – going deep three times on opposing pitcher Tom Koehler.
Bryce didn’t let a team day off cool him down either, as he belted another two home runs off the same team that he started his tear in the Braves.
With Anthony Rendon struggling to find his way back to the field, the Nationals needed a player to step up to fill the void left by their injured third baseman.
Harper is very much talented enough to be that guy, with the last two games exhibit A, B, as well as the closing argument.
