Bryce Harper admitted on Sunday that he puts the weight of the world on his own shoulders.

It’s intentional. He’s willing to bear the burden. It’s what fuels him. He feels like he mostly thrives under that pressure. He welcomes it. He accepts it. He cherishes it.

Even during what was the worst stretch of his career – which includes a period where he went just 1-for-34, he wouldn’t have had the demand be any other way.

And while sometimes that demand doesn’t come externally, and is one that Harper puts on himself, it’s what is necessary to motivate him to be the best version of himself, even if some of the flaws shine through from time to time.

So, it should come as no surprise that when the Phillies finally ended their season-worst, six-game losing streak on Sunday by thumping the Seattle Mariners 6-0, that Bryce Harper was at the center of it all.


Oh, sure, there was Zack Wheeler’s gem of a pitching performance in which he allowed just two hits and struck out nine over eight scoreless innings. That had a lot to do with it to – probably even more than Harper’s contributions. But it can’t be understated how different the offense looks when Harper is being Harper and when he’s not.

“There’s times I expand the zone and I’m really bad,” Harper said. “When I don’t expand the zone and hit pitches over the plate, I’m really good. It’s as simple as that.”

Harper had three hits Sunday. Two singles and a two-run homer. It was his first multi-hit game since July 12 and his first three-hit game since June 24.

His first single helped him eclipse the 3,000 total base plateau in his career, making him just the 42nd player ever and only the 13th left-handed hitter to do it before turning 32-years-old. That’s an accomplishment reserved for those who get enshrinement in the hallowed halls in Cooperstown.

But it’s also indicative of something else – Harper is the straw that stirs the drink for the Phillies offense.

Before you start applying the Captain Obvious label for that last sentence, you may be surprised to learn that it’s more pronounced this season than any other in his Phillies tenure.

Let’s break it down.

In games Bryce Harper has multiple hits – like he did Sunday – the Phillies are 22-5 (.815). In games Harper has one hit or fewer, or isn’t in the lineup, the Phillies are 44-40 (.524). That’s a difference of 291 points in win percentage.

How does this compare to previous seasons with the Phillies? Let’s take a look:

YEAR     Harper 2+ hits     Harper < 1 hit or DNP     Win % Diff.

2023         29-11 (.725)                 61-61 (.500)                     .225

2022         15-11 (.577)                  72-64 (.529)                    .048

2021         22-15 (.595)                 60-65 (.480)                    .115

2020           7-6 (.539)                   21-26 (.447)                    .092

2019          24-14 (.632)                 57-67 (.460)                   .172

Total*       119-62 (.658)                315-323 (.494)              .164

(Total includes 2024)

You can do the same thing with games Harper hits a home run. Sure, your chances improve when your best player hits a home run, but it’s more pronounced this season than almost any other.

YEAR     Harper HR     No Harper HR     Win % Diff.

2024        18-4 (.818)      48-41 (.539)             .279

2023         12-8 (.600)     78-64 (.549)             .051

2022          11-6 (.647)      76-69 (.524)            .123

2021           21-11 (.656)    61-69 (.469)           .187

2020            6-5 (.546)      22-27 (.449)            .097

2019           25-8 (.758)      56-73 (.434)           .324

Total           93-42 (.689)    341-343 (.499)      .190

The only season with a bigger difference than this year was 2019, and that’s because the Phillies were a .500 team. The only position player left from that team with Harper is J.T. Realmuto. Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez (who was a reliever only back then), are the only other players still on the roster.

Yet, even in a season where Harper is getting more offensive support in the lineup than ever before with Kyle Schwarber currently posting his second-highest batting average of his career (.251), the highest on-base percentage of his career (.383) and the third-highest OPS of his career (.849 – highest as a Phillie), Trea Turner slashing .312/.361/.493, Alec Bohm having a breakout season, and the pitching being mostly top of the league-level, when Harper is good, the Phillies are elite, and when he’s not, they’re pretty much a .500 team.

“I just want to win,” he said. “I know when I’m playing well, we’re going to win, so when I don’t play well, and we lose I take a lot of that on myself. You guys know how I am, right? I want to be great. I want to be the best and do the things I can (in order) to get this organization where they want to be.”

The last two games have been a positive sign that the Harper you are used to seeing is breaking out of his doldrums. His 12-pitch at bat before an opposite field double on Saturday may have been the turning point. Every at bat Sunday, even the first one, in which he struck out, looked more vintage.

So, it’s all about him. As he goes, so will the Phillies. It doesn’t matter who is around him. Sure, there will be games that other players steal the spotlight from him. That’s what makes for championship caliber teams – it doesn’t have to be your superstar every night.

But when it is your superstar’s turn, you should feel very confident that you can win, and if Harper is at the top of his game, the 2024 Phillies are nearly unbeatable.