Battery lost

Cubs lose closer Craig Kimbrel, catcher Willson Contreras to injury.

The Chicago Cubs have placed closer Craig Kimbrel on the 10- day injured list with right knee inflammation, and All- Star catcher Willson Contreras will miss the next four weeks with a right hamstring strain.

The injuries are a pair of significant blows for the NL Central- leading Cubs, who are trying to hold off St. Louis and Milwaukee to win the division for the third time in four years.

Kimbrel says his knee started bothering him while he was closing out Saturday’s 4- 1 victory over the Brewers. The IL stint is retroactive to Sunday, and Kimbrel thinks he will be ready when he is eligible to return.

Contreras also got hurt Saturday. He had an MRI on Monday that showed a Grade 2 strain. He experienced a similar injury in 2017.

Braves

The Atlanta Braves recalled Mike Foltynewicz from AAA Gwinnett, hoping the hard- throwing right- hander can regain the form that made him an All- Star last season. A roster spot became available when Kevin Gausman was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.

Foltynewicz was 13- 10 with a 2.85 ERA in 2018 and started two games for the Braves in the playoffs. But he struggled to get past an injury that put him behind schedule during spring training and was demoted to the minors on June 22 after going 2- 5 with a 6.37 ERA in 11 starts.

Foltynewicz will start Tuesday night at Minnesota in an interleague matchup of first- place teams.

Mets

Second baseman Robinson Cano is on the injured list, this time with a torn left hamstring. Cano was placed on the IL a day after he got hurt while rounding first base in a game against the Pirates at PNC Park. The Mets said surgery is not necessary but did not give a timetable for Cano’s return.