WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper continues to make a case as the best hitter in baseball. The 23-year-old slugger for the Washington Nationals has hit six home runs in 11 games – including one that made its way to the bullpen restroom at Citizens Bank Park – and is projected to hit 40 for the season, according to Dan Szymborski’s ZiPS projections.

Pitchers are more leery of Harper than ever before, throwing pitches 3.13 inches from the center of the plate on average this season, compared with 3.07 from a year ago.

As a result, Harper is striking out in just 8.3 percent of his plate appearances, a huge decline from last season (20 percent) – while making contact more often (84 percent compared with 75 percent in 2015). And when he does get a pitch in his power zone – the outer two-thirds of the plate – he’s demolishing them: .909 slugging over 22 at-bats.

CARDINALS: Shortstop Ruben Tejada was activated from the 15-day disabled list after recovering from a strained left quadriceps, which he hurt in the last game of spring training.

But he was on the bench Monday night against the Chicago Cubs, with rookie Aledmys Diaz starting. Diaz was batting .406 with two homers and eight RBI.

Infielder Greg Garcia, 6 for 10 in eight games, was optioned to Triple-A Memphis after Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Manager Mike Matheny said Garcia would be the primary starter at shortstop in the minors.

The 26-year-old Tejada figured to be the starter in place of Jhonny Peralta, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Diaz and Jedd Gyorko have both played well, in the field and at the plate, and Garcia also started at shortstop.

St. Louis signed Tejada on March 19 after he was released by the New York Mets. He was hurt on March 31.

TWINS: Minnesota hired former manager Ron Gardenhire as a special assistant to General Manager Terry Ryan. His responsibilities include traveling to all minor league affiliates as an instructor and evaluator.

The Twins fired Gardenhire in 2014 after Minnesota finished that season 70-92. He spent 27 years in the Twins’ organization, including 13 years as manager.

As manager, Gardenhire led the Twins to a record of 1,068-1,038, or .507, and is second only to Tom Kelly on the Twins’ managerial wins list. He was named AL Manager of the Year in 2010 and guided the Twins to six American League Central Division titles, including an ALCS appearance in 2002.

METS: Jacob deGrom and his wife took their newborn son, Jaxon, home from the hospital Monday. There had been complications with Jaxon following his birth last week.

DeGrom was placed on the bereavement/family medical emergency list as he and his wife, Stacey, dealt with the complications.

DeGrom can return any point between Tuesday and Saturday.