Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper has hit a home run either in the regular or postseason against 29 of MLB’s 30 teams.
The two-time NL MVP will have one final chance in 2024 to cross the final team off his list of victims when the Oakland Athletics come to Citizens Bank Park for a three-game set beginning on Friday.
The series will lead into the All-Star break and is the only time that Oakland and Philadelphia meet this season, that is, assuming the A’s (35-60) don’t have the most stunning turnaround in MLB history and make the 2024 World Series.
While Harper has never had a regular season home run against the Houston Astros, he took Lance McCullers Jr. deep in Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, propelling the Phillies to a 7-0 win.
With his hamstring injury behind him, Harper has a great chance to hit at least one home run over the weekend and make it a perfect 30-for-30.
He’s just 1-for-8 with four strikeouts since coming off the injured list but has hit 14 of his 20 dingers at home in 2024. Harper’s also feasted in interleague play this season, going 26-for-72 with five home runs and 16 RBI.
Oakland’s probable starters for the series include second-year pro Hogan Harris (Friday), rookie Mitch Spence (Saturday) and rookie Joey Estes (Sunday).
Harper’s never faced any of the arms, but the eight-time All-Star will surely be looking to enter the break on a high note and finally be able to cross the Athletics off his list.