(Brad Mills/USA Today Sports)NEW YORK — Barring a last-minute setback, the Washington Nationals will activate Bryce Harper ahead of Monday’s game in Philadelphia, according to people familiar with the situation. If Harper is, indeed, activated Monday, they will have won that race, giving Harper a week’s worth of at-bats and games before October. Dusty Baker refused Sunday to commit to Harper being activated, as is the Nationals’ way. If they do not say for sure that Harper will return, they cannot be questioned if something changes and he doesn’t. The Nationals could have sent him to West Palm Beach, Fla., where the Nationals’ instructional league season begins Monday, where he could ease back into low-pressure situations.

Source: Washington Post September 24, 2017 19:14 UTC