Cain still sidelined as crucial trip opens
Centerfielder holds out hope he’ll be ready to return this weekend
PITTSBURGH - The Milwaukee Brewers began their all-important final road trip of the season against the PIttsburgh Pirates at PNC Park without one of their most indispensible players.
Centerfielder Lorenzo Cain remained sidelined Friday with tightness in the right side of his rib cage but held out hope he would be able to return to action at some point over the weekend.
“Sort this out, and I’ll be back out there,” Cain said. “See how treatment goes. Hopefully everything goes great, and I’ll be back out there as soon as possible.”
Cain suffered the injury last weekend against the Pirates at Miller Park and was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds when it became obvious to manager Craig Counsell that Cain’s swing had changed as he attempted to compensate.
Cain was held out Wednesday and the Brewers were off Thursday, giving him as much as 31⁄2 games of rest and treatment heading into Saturday, a game that likely will be a challenge with tough right-hander Trevor Williams starting for the Pirates.
“Rest is going to help him. So that’s where we’re at,” Counsell said. “I know he’s champing at the bit. But we’re also trying to be cautious and plan for a possible six weeks here. That’s important to keep in mind.
“He’s doing good. He’s got a little injury there and we’re just trying to give him as much time as we possibly can.”
The injury, referred to technically as an intercostal strain, is one Ryan Braun dealt with a few years ago and is especially troubling to hitters who are constantly swinging the bat.
Cain said aside from rest, the treatment regimen is a combination of electrical stimulation, ice and digital massage and manipulation.
“Whatever they tell me to do, that’s what I do,” he said.
Braun was back in left field after missing the Cincinnati series with a sore back, and Christian Yelich took Cain’s place in center, with Curtis Granderson starting in right.
Cain had said in spring training one of his goals for 2018 was to best the career-high 155 games he played last season for the Kansas City Royals. He’s at 132 games, with an outside shot at exceeding the 140 he played in 2015.
Cain missed 12 games in late June and early July with a left groin strain that sent him to the disabled list, but otherwise has been healthy.
“I’ve had a few hiccups this season. Definitely didn’t play as many as I wanted to,” Cain said. “But it happens. I know the season’s not over with, but overall I feel like I’ve done a great job of pretty much staying healthy. I had the one hiccup with the groin. But I’ve been good.”
Thanks a lot: The big story in sports Thursday night was the Cleveland Browns’ victory over the New York Jets, snapping the franchise’s 635-day winless streak.
Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in late April, led Cleveland to the comefrom-behind win with a terrific secondhalf performance. But he also found a couple fun ways to show his friend Yelich some love before and after the game.
Mayfield arrived at FirstEnergy Stadium wearing an autographed ‘Yeli” Brewers game jersey, then afterward finished his news conference with “...and Christian Yelich for NL MVP.”
Yelich gave Mayfield some love on Twitter before the game and then said Friday he’d been given a head’s up on Mayfield’s attire. The stumping for MVP, though, was unexpected.
“It was all in good fun,” Yelich said. “It’s always nice to see your friends do well in every aspect of their lives. Obviously it was a huge moment in his career and a lot of work goes into that moment, and as an athlete you can kind of appreciate that.
“Obviously it’s different sports, but you understand the work that goes into it and how much preparation and the road that you take to get to somewhere like that.”
Yelich, who’s locked in what appears to be a three-man race with Chicago’s Javy Báez and St. Louis’s Matt Carpenter for the top individual honor, was asked if he thought Mayfield’s comment would help move the needle for him in the balloting.
“We’ll see,” he said. “Obviously I didn’t know he was going to do that, but it was cool. It’s kind of for all you guys to debate and decide. But I was really happy for him and the Browns yesterday.
“That’s probably the most I’ve cared about a football game in a while. Same with a lot of guys in here. It was really fun to watch.”
Yelich does own a Mayfield Browns jersey, but he wasn’t wearing it as he entered PNC Park on Friday afternoon.
“Forgot to pack it on this road trip. It was really bad timing, actually,” he said. with a laugh. “It’s in my locker in Milwaukee. Probably should have brought that one with me, huh?”