Report: Bryce Harper Battling Strep Throat During Nationals' Playoff Run

Report: Bryce Harper Battling Strep Throat During Nationals’ Playoff Run

by Dan Duquette Jr. on Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 9:51AM

The Nationals have an off day Tuesday as they travel from St. Louis back to Washington. The timing probably couldn't be better for Bryce Harper.

The rookie outfielder for the Nats has reportedly been battling strep throat during the first two games of the NLDS, in which he's gone 1-for-10 with six strikeouts.

Before Monday's game, though, he gave an indication that he was on the mend.

"I'm feeling better," he said, while noting that he was on some antibiotics. "Fever's down."

That should be good news to Nats fans, who saw Harper strike out four times in Monday's 12-4 loss to St. Louis.

It's not the start that the 19-year-old would have probably liked to see his playoff career get off to, but that might be the least of Washington's concerns. After all, strep throat is pretty contagious, and if Harper's production has been affected at all by the infection, then the rest of the team better stay away from him as best as they can.