Ryan Braun: How the Milwaukee Brewer OF's New Injury Affects MLB All-Star Game

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun missed his fourth consecutive game Wednesday to have an MRI on a sore left calf that Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke attributes to the All-Star's attempt to rush back.

Braun went to be examined by team physician Dr. William Raasch, walking out of Miller Park about 10:30 a.m. According to the Associated Press, Roenicke said the soreness increased after Braun worked out Tuesday in an effort to play Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

"He put a lot of effort in to see if he could go yesterday, so he feels it a little bit more," Roenicke said. "But I think also the reason he feels it is because he really didn't do anything those two days after (being injured).

"Anytime you start up again, even BP (batting practice), it's probably going to be a little sore," Roenicke said.

Roenicke said he spoke to trainer Roger Caplinger about the injury.

"Roger still doesn't think it's anything big, but you know sometimes it goes on longer than we expect it."

Braun has a 22-game hitting streak and is batting .320 with 16 home runs, 62 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 83 games.

The injury comes at a bad time for the Brewers, who went into Wednesday's game having lost seven of eight. At the same time, Albert Pujols returned from the disabled list for the St. Louis Cardinals, who led Milwaukee by two games in the NL Central before Wednesday's games.

Roenicke said he was unsure whether Braun, who received the most fan votes among NL All-Stars, would return before the All-Star break. The Brewers and Cincinnati Reds are slated to begin a four-game series tonight.

"It may be a couple more days, I don't know," Roenicke said. "There's always a chance. I know he wants to play, especially against Cincinnati. He wants to play this weekend.

"We'll just look where he is, but if he's still sore it doesn't make any sense (for him to play)," he said.

Roenicke said he did not want to comment whether Braun would play in Tuesday night's All-Star game, but acknowledged that the game in Phoenix "should not be" his first return to action since suffering the injury.

Braun was injured Saturday night in a game against the Minnesota Twins.