Brewers' Ryan Braun to Undergo MRI After Suffering Calf Injury vs. Rockies

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun suffered a left calf strain against the Colorado Rockies on Friday and will undergo an MRI, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. 

Ben Gamel replaced Braun in the second inning. In the first, Braun knocked in Trent Grisham with a first-inning single to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. He played the field in the bottom of the first and did not get an at-bat in the second before exiting.

The 35-year-old has 22 home runs, 75 RBI and a .285 batting average.

Despite the 11-7 loss to Colorado on Friday, the scorching-hot 89-71 Brewers had won seven straight and clinched a National League postseason berth for the second consecutive year. They are just one game behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals, who are hosting the Chicago Cubs this weekend, with two remaining.

Milwaukee is also two games back of the Washington Nationals for the top NL wild-card spot.

Gamel, 27, entered Friday with seven home runs, 33 RBI and a .249 batting average. He figures to take Braun's place if the 2011 National League MVP is out for any period of time.

The Brewers already have incentive to win this weekend given the wild-card and division races, but taking the NL Central would give Braun a few days to heal before the National League Division Series begins.

The NL Wild Card Game is set to take place Tuesday, or two days before the two NLDS begin.

Remarkably, Milwaukee has dominated of late sans 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich, who is out for the year after suffering a fractured right kneecap Sept. 10. The 27-year-old finished with 44 home runs, 97 RBI and a .329 batting average.

The Brewers pitching staff has played a massive role in that seven-game win streak, allowing just 13 runs (and no more than three in a single contest). The bats have also excelled, putting up a pair of 10-run games against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week and scoring nine more against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Losing Braun certainly wouldn't be ideal, especially since the team is already without Yelich.

However, the hurlers and lineup may very well carry the Brewers deep into the playoffs once again after they finished one win shy of the NL pennant last year.