Brewers unsure if Christian Yelich (back) needs IL stint

The Milwaukee Brewers hope resting Christian Yelich the past two days will be enough to loosen up his tight back, but they won't know for certain until Friday.

Yelich missed 24 games due to a left groin strain before returning to action on Tuesday and going 0-for-4 as Milwaukee beat the visiting San Diego Padres 6-4.

In the wake of that game, he experienced back tightness, which prompted the Brewers to sit him out for their Wednesday loss and Thursday victory to cap the San Diego series.

The issue is believed to be related to the back surgery Yelich underwent in August 2024.

"He felt much better today," manager Pat Murphy said after Milwaukee topped San Diego 7-1 on Thursday. "We'll find out a lot more (Friday). I think (Friday) will be kind of a telling tale whether he needs a longer break."

The Brewers will open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday in Minneapolis.

"He had the same thing last year," Murphy said. "If you talked to his doctor, they would tell you the same thing, that this is going to happen from time to time. Do you know anybody with back surgery that absolutely has no problems with their back? That's just not how it is."

Yelich, 34, is batting .291 with a .350 on-base percentage, a .418 slugging percentage, one homer and 10 RBIs in 16 games this year.

A three-time All-Star who was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 2018, Yelich has a career .285/.374/.464 batting line with 234 homers, 861 RBIs and 224 stolen bases in 1,632 games.

Yelich played for the Miami Marlins from 2013-17 before he was traded to the Brewers in January 2018.

--Field Level Media