PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper¡¯s strained right elbow needs more time to heal.

How much more? Nobody knows.

Harper, who sustained the injury while making a throw to home plate against the Mets on April 11, was examined by a team doctor before Tuesday night¡¯s 6-4 loss to the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. He has not played right field since April 16.

¡°We¡¯re still kind of sit and wait,¡± Harper said Wednesday afternoon. ¡°That¡¯s about it. It¡¯s pretty much the same report that we had last time. Just try to see day by day when we can throw again. I¡¯m just not there yet.¡±

The injury does not affect Harper when he swings, so he will continue to DH for the foreseeable future.

¡°I miss playing,¡± Harper said. ¡°I really do. I miss being out there with my team and playing on the field. It¡¯s been tough. I want to get back out there. I want to help this team on both sides of the ball. I miss playing right [field]. ¡­ That¡¯s been a grind for me. Just worrying about hitting all day, instead of going out there and playing both sides of the ball.¡±

Harper said there is no date circled on the calendar to try throwing again. He last tested his elbow on April 26 and 27.

¡°Just when I feel good and can let it go the way I want to,¡± Harper said. ¡°You guys know how I throw from the outfield. I try to throw it as hard as I can when I throw. I¡¯m just not there yet.¡±

Harper said he feels no tenderness when he is engaged in everyday activities.

¡°It¡¯s just when I try throwing a baseball, it just aches,¡± he said.

No anti-inflammatory injection is scheduled at this point, Harper said.

¡°We¡¯re not going to push it,¡± Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. ¡°I don¡¯t want a setback.¡±