Harper (paternity list) expected back Monday

MIAMI -- Bryce Harper is expected to rejoin the Phillies for Monday night’s series opener against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies placed Harper on the paternity list Friday, which allows him three days away from the team. Harper and wife Kayla have made no announcement, but they said in April they were having a boy. Harper flew home to Las Vegas following Wednesday night’s game in Boston.

Harper is batting .254 with 27 home runs, 92 RBIs and an .870 OPS this season. He is batting .290 with nine homers, 20 RBIs and a 1.139 OPS in his last 17 games.

The Phillies recalled third baseman Maikel Franco from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Harper’s spot on the roster. Franco started at third base in Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins at Marlins Park. He could be optioned to Triple-A on Monday when Harper returns, then rejoin the team once rosters expand in September.

That’s a lot of pitches
Rhys Hoskins saw 41 pitches in six plate appearances Saturday in a 9-3 victory over the Marlins. They were the most pitches seen by a Phillies batter in a nine-inning game since STATS Inc. started to track the statistic in 1988.

They were the most seen by any batter in a nine-inning game since Cincinnati’s Joey Votto saw 41 on Aug. 27, 2017.

Hoskins walked three times Saturday. He has walked 101 times this season. He is the sixth Phillies’ player to walk at least 100 times in a season since 1993. He joins Bobby Abreu (seven times), Pat Burrell (twice), Ryan Howard (twice), Jim Thome (twice) and Carlos Santana (once). Hoskins is on pace to be the first Phillies player to lead the National League in walks since Lenny Dykstra had 129 walks in '93.