Reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich left Sunday’s game against the host New York Mets with lower back discomfort following the top of the fifth inning.
Yelich singled in the fourth inning and was retired on a double play. He was replaced by Ben Gamel in right field to begin the bottom of the fifth inning. It was unclear when Yelich was injured.
“He’s a little sore right now,” manager Craig Counsell said after the game, adding that Yelich is day-to-day. Counsell hopes to give Yelich a day off on Monday, as the Colorado Rockies visit.
Yelich hit his 14th home run of the season on Saturday, tying Alex Rodriguez (2007) and Albert Pujols (2006) for the most home runs in a season before May 1 in major league history. Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger matched the mark on Sunday.
The Mets lost second baseman Robinson Cano when he was hit on the hand by a pitch in the first inning. The pitch was ruled a strike and Juan Lagares finished the at-bat. Jeff McNeil took over at second and Lagares came in to play left field.
