Bryce Harper not in Nats' lineup day after being hit in knee by pitch

A day after being hit in the right knee by a pitch, Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper was held out of the team's lineup Tuesday.

Harper was hit by a pitch from Philadelphia Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson in the top of the seventh inning Monday, and after talking with manager Dusty Baker and trainer Paul Lessard, he stayed in the game and took first base.

With the Nationals' Daniel Murphy at the plate, Hellickson threw over to first base a couple of times, forcing Harper to dive safely back to the bag. But when Murphy hit a line drive to left fielder Tyler Goeddel, Harper was doubled off first without sliding after Goeddel threw a strike to Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard.

Harper was replaced in the field by Chris Heisey in the bottom of the seventh.Chris Robinson got the start Tuesday in place of Harper, whose status is day-to-day.

"It hurts," Harper said Monday night. "Whenever you get squared up like that, definitely something that didn't feel good. I think we'll evaluate tomorrow and see how it feels. If I don't feel good, I'm not going to play. If I feel fine, then I'll be in there."

Harper, the reigning National League MVP, is batting .242 with 13 homers and 34 RBIs this season.