Nationals' Bryce Harper (thumb) absent from lineup

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (thumb) is absent from the starting lineup on Monday night.

What It Means:

Harper injured his left thumb Sunday while sliding awkwardly into third base. He's scheduled for an X-ray on Monday. Brian Goodwin is replacing him in right field for the Nationals and will hit seventh in Monday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Harper's hot start faded almost as quickly as it started earlier this season and now with the year almost over he is slashing .244/.375/.444 with a .345 wOBA over 614 plate appearances. He has 24 homers and 85 RBI's and he has lowered his strikeout rate to 17.8, which is a career-best.